RESUMO
The link between sphincter of Oddi function with biliary system (gallbladder and bile duct) diseases is considered to be very complicated. Whether routine prophylactic laparos-copic cholecystectomy should be carried out after endoscopic sphincterotomy to remove bile duct stones has been controversial worldwide. Actually, this is a very common and important clinical question which needs to be answered. The author spends a lot of time and efforts to broadly read and analyze on published articles related to this topic, and tries, from the aspects of the anatomy and function of sphincter of Oddi, the biliary diseases causing by dysfunction or discordance of sphincter of Oddi, and the impacting of artificial destruction of sphincter of Oddi on the gallbladder and bile duct of patients, to come up with an answer to this question based on scientific and medical evidence.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: In solid organ transplantation patients, complications of cholelithiasis may run a fulminant course, resulting in high morbidity and mortality under immunosuppression and may even result in rejection. Here, we reviewed medical records of 66 patients in order to determine the outcome of management approach for asymptomatic gallstones in renal transplantation patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical courses of 66 cases of renal transplantation performed between 2000 and 2012 at Kosin University Gospel Hospital. RESULTS: Among 66 cases, eight had gallstones before transplantation. Three of these cases had undergone previous cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones, one had a simultaneous laparoscopic cholecystectomy and renal transplantation, and four were observed by regular abdominal ultrasonography. One patient was found to have cholangitis, and endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage was performed, resulting in alleviation of symptoms. Among 58 cases without preoperative gallstones, three developed gallstones after transplantation. One patient had cholecystitis, and the symptoms subsided after conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with asymptomatic gallstones who are awaiting renal transplantation, expectant management should be considered.