BACKGROUND:The importance of gallstone disease derives from their frequency and pathological potential. Spectrum of gallstone diseases is very wide and complications are not infrequent. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present cohort study was conducted on 240 consecutive cholecystectomies performed for various indications in Post Graduate Department of Surgery, RMCH, Bareilly. This tertiary care institute caters the healthcare needs of Rohilkhand region.
RESULTS:The commonest age group having the gallbladder disease was Vth decade (29.6%). Females outnumbered males by the ratio of 5.32:1. The commonest presenting symptom was pain in right upper/mid upper quadrant of abdomen (96.6% of symptomatic cases) followed by nausea/vomiting (45.0%). Out of 240 cholecystectomies performed, the gross and histopathological evaluation revealed that 180 cases (75%) were having chronic cholecystitis with cholelithiasis only; 46 cases (19.2%) were of acute on chronic cholecystitis with cholelithiasis, and 7 cases of acute acalculus cholecystitis. 60 cases (25%) were also having other associated histopathological changes in gallbladder mucosa like metaplasia (31), dysplasia (22) and carcinoma (7). CONCLUSION: In today's era of safe laparoscopic cholecystectomy, available even in small hospitals of North India, prophylactic cholecystectomy can be offered to asymptomatic cases of gallstones, especially if diagnosed in younger age because of the expected prolonged exposure to chronic irritation by gallstones and development of their complications including metaplasia, dysplasia and carcinoma gallbladder.