BACKGROUND: This study wants to establish if there is an association between gallbladder hypomotility in obese patients before bariatric surgery and gallstone development after weight loss. METHODS: From September 2002 to January 2005 using realtime ultrasonography we evaluated fasting and postprandial (60th minute) gallbladder volumes and ejection fractions in ninety six morbid obese patients prior to bariatric surgery. These patients were followed one year after bariatric surgery with gallbladder ultrasonography to identify cholelithiasis. RESULTS: There were twenty seven (28.12%) with gallbladder hypomotility, seven (29.62%) of them had cholelithiasis in the postoperative period. Eighteen of ninety six patients (18.75%) had developed gallstones. CONCLUSION: There were no statistical differences between cholelithiasis development both in patients with hypomotility and with normal gallbladder motility.
Obesity, morbid; Cholelithiasis; Gallbladder Emptying; Gastroplasty; Ultrasonography; Bariatric surgery
