EFFECT OF CHOLELITHIASIS AND CHOLECYSTECT OMY ON DUODENOGASTRIC BILIARY REFLUX

The aim of this work was to study the influence of cholelithiasis and cholecystectomy on duodenogastric biliary reflux. Total bile acid conc entration (TBAC) in fasting gastric juice was measured in 23 consecuti ve patients with cholelithiasis and functioning gall-bladder before an d at least 3 months after cholecystectomy (group 1) and in 14 healthy volunteers (group II). In group two, TBAC was 8.5 +/- 2.8 uMol/l (mean +/- sem), the preoperative value in group I was 32.8 +/- 8.9 uMol/l a nd the postoperative value 69.9 +/- 14 uMol/l (p < 0. 002 compared wit h group II and < 0.035 compared with preoperative values). These resul ts suggest that cholelithiasis, even with a functioning gallbladder is associated with a significant increase in bile reflux to the stomach, with raises further after cholecystectomy.