Gallstones revisited? Al-Madina Al-Monawarah's experience [a prospective study of 212 consecutive cases]

ABSTRACT

A total of 212 consecutive in-patients with ultrasound proven gallstones were studied prospectively for the clinical features of gallstones. There were 185 females and 27 males [femalemale ratio of [6.9 1]] with a mean age [range] of 39.5 [17-83] and 49.5 [30-94] years respectively. Fifty per cent of patients had non-specific symptoms, and gallstones were an incidental finding in 3%. Acute cholecystitis was found in 22% and biliary colic was present in 30%. Intolerance to fatty food as a symptom was reported by only 40% of patients. Complications were rare; with acute pancreatitis seen in 1.4% and surgical jaundice in 0.4%. Thirty-eight per cent of females were obese [Body Mass Index [BMI] >30] with female mean [SD] BMI of 28.3 [6.2]; and a mean parity of six pregnancies. Amongst men 5.5% were obese; with a male mean [SD] BMI of 24.5 [3.2]. All the gallstones analysed were of the mixed type with a mean [SD] cholesterol content of 49.9 [7.5%] of the stone weight [range 38-72%]. In view of the clinical features shown by this hospital based study we suspect that 'asymptomatic' gallstones in Saudis are common. A community based study would be needed to evaluate this suspicion