The Role of Cholecystectomy in Hyperkinetic Gallbladder: A Retrospective Cohort Study in a Rural Hospital

Background Biliary dyskinesia is a functional gallbladder disorder in which there is an absence of a structural or mechanical cause for biliary pain. A cholecystokinin-hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (CCK-HIDA) scan is typically performed during workup, and cholecystectomy is the accepted treatment for low ejection fraction (EF) (less than 33%, as defined by the literature). However, few studies have examined the role of cholecystectomy in hyperkinetic gallbladder (EF >= 80%). The aim of our study was to examine symptom resolution following minimally invasive cholecystectomy in patients with hyperkinetic gallbladder. Methodology A retrospective chart review was conducted at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA. Patients who underwent minimally invasive cholecystectomy for biliary colic with EF >= 80% and who were without cholelithiasis on preoperative imaging or on final pathology were included in this study. The main outcome was symptom resolution at the postoperative visit. Data collected included age, gender, EF, body mass index, symptoms with CCK infusion, and pathology. Results A total of 48 patients were included. The mean age of patients was 41.2 years (standard deviation = 14.4), and the median age of patients was 42.2 years, with a range of 17-71 years. The majority of patients were female (83.3%). Overall, 58.3% of patients had replication of symptoms with CCK infusion. The mean gallbladder EF was 87.3%, with a median of 87.0 and a range of 80-98. In total, 33 (68.8%) patients had chronic cholecystitis on final pathology reports. There was a 95.9% symptom resolution rate among our patients two weeks postoperatively. Conclusions The overwhelming majority of patients experienced symptom resolution prior to their two-week postoperative visit following minimally invasive cholecystectomy for hyperkinetic gallbladder. These results strongly suggest a role of surgical management in patients with high EF.