The Influence of Gallbladder Function on the Symptomatology in Gallstone Patients, and the Outcome after Cholecystectomy or Expectancy

The purpose of this study was to examine whether gallbladder function as assessed by a hepatobiliary scintigraphy was related to the symptomatology in gallstone patients and to the outcome 1 year after either cholecystectomy or watchful waiting. The study included 100 patients with uncomplicated gallstone disease. Fifty-six patients had a functioning gallbladder and 44 had a nonfunctioning gallbladder. Patients with a nonfunctioning gallbladder had significantly more vomiting and received more pain-killing injections during pain attacks. Otherwise, there were no differences in pain patterns or characteristics of dyspeptic symptoms in relation to gallbladder function. In patients with a functioning gallbladder, there were no significant differences between the group of patients with impaired and normal gallbladder function. Cholecystectomy was performed in 69 patients and at the 1-year follow-up; 22% continued to have pain attacks, but this was not related to the gallbladder function preoperatively. In 31 patients without cholecystectomy, 14 patients became asymptomatic within a 1-year follow-up. However, this was not related to gallbladder function. In conclusion, gallbladder function evaluated by a hepatobiliary scintigraphy was not related to the symptoms in gallstone patients, and was not related to the occurrence of symptoms after cholecystectomy or watchful waiting.