GALLBLADDER EJECTION FRACTION - NONDIAGNOSTIC FOR SPHINCTER OF ODDI DYSFUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH INTACT GALLBLADDERS

Thirty consecutive patients with intact gallbladders and biliary pain were evaluated to determine whether gallbladder ejection fraction coul d identify sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. The mean gallbladder ejectio n fraction was 45% in patients with abdominal pain and 72% in normal c ontrols. Gallbladder ejection fractions were then correlated with endo scopically measured sphincter of Oddi pressures in patients with abdom inal pain. The mean gallbladder ejection fraction was 41% in 7 patient s with elevated sphincter pressures and 46% in 23 patients with normal pressures (P = NS). Thirty-six percent of patients with elevated pres sures and 33% of patients with normal pressures had abnormal gallbladd er ejection fractions. Gallbladder ejection fraction had a sensitivity of 33%, a specificity of 63%, and a positive predictive value of 25% for detection of elevated pressures. Regression analysis revealed a po or correlation between sphincter pressure and gallbladder ejection fra ction (r2 = 0.02). These findings suggest that gallbladder ejection fr action cannot be used to diagnose sphincter of Oddi dysfunction in pat ients before they undergo cholecystectomy.