Aim: To examine the incidence of cholelithiasis in patients after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer.
Patients and methods: Patients operated for gastric cancer at our hospital were retrospectively studied. Criteria to be included in the study were: 1) Follow-up of more than 3 years, 2) Cholelithiasis excluded preoperatively by ultrasonography, 3) Ultrasonographic postoperative control once a year.
Results: Ten patients met the established criteria. Six of them developed biliary lithiasis, and four of them needed surgical treatment for biliary symptomatology.
Conclusions: The incidence of cholelithiasis after total gastrectomy for gastric cancer is high, and surgical treatment is often necessary. However our data does not support prophylactic cholecystectomy in the course of total gastrectomy.