Alterations in colonic transit time after laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy: a clinical study

• Published in: Techniques in coloproctology Vol. 15; no. Suppl 1; pp. 37 - 41
• Main Authors: Pitiakoudis, M., Fotakis, S. N., Zezos, P., Kouklakis, G., Michailidis, L., Romanidis, K., Vafiadis, K., Simopoulos, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Milan Springer Milan 01-10-2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abdominal Surgery; Cholecystectomy - adverse effects; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic - adverse effects; Cholelithiasis - surgery; Colon - physiopathology; Colonic Diseases - etiology; Colonic Diseases - physiopathology; Colorectal Surgery; Female; Gastroenterology; Gastrointestinal Transit; Humans; Ileus - etiology; Ileus - physiopathology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Proctology; Surgery; Cholecystectomy; Postoperative; Colon; Transit time; Ileus
• ISSN: 1123-6337; 1128-045X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10151-011-0729-x

Purpose
Postoperative enteral paresis constitutes a common problem for surgeons around the world. Evidence by many authors suggests that colonic inertia constitutes a major component of postoperative enteral paresis. This study aims at comparing the effect of laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy on colonic transit time in humans.
Materials and methods
In this study, were included a total of 29 patients suffering from cholelithiasis, divided into two groups, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy and an open cholecystectomy group. All patients ingested one capsule containing 24 radiopaque markers on the day of the operation, and plain abdominal films were obtained on the 3rd postoperative day. The number of remaining markers was counted, and the percentage of rejected markers was calculated. For the statistical analysis, SPSS for windows version 12 was used.
Results and discussion
The study’s results show a significant difference in postoperative colonic motility, in favor of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy group (
P
 = 0,001). Causative interpretation of these results is difficult, mainly due to the multifactorial nature of postoperative colonic hypomotility.
Conclusion
The present study suggests an advantage of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, as far as the duration of postoperative colonic paresis is concerned.