Place of Cholecystectomy in Children with Uncomplicated Gallstones

The incidence of gallstones in children has increased in recent years. Risk factors that increase the formation of bile duct stones have been described in children, and discussions are ongoing about surgical indications of uncomplicated gallstones. This study aimed to investigate the impact of risk factors on gallstone-induced complications and identify surgical indications for uncomplicated gallstones in children. Patients who had a cholecystectomy in the pediatric surgery clinic between October 2011 and January 2018 were evaluated. Data including age and sex, body mass index (BMI), associated risk factors, gallstone-induced complications, postoperative complications, postoperative complaints, and pathological results were recorded. Seventy-two patients were included in the study. The mean age was 13.2 years with a female-to-male ratio of 2.27:1. Obesity was the most common risk factor (25%). A total of 44% of the patients experienced a complication on admission. The risk factors had no effect on the development of complications. The patients underwent cholecystectomy, but some symptoms persisted in thirteen patients postoperatively (18.1%). Ten of these patients did not have any risk factors; however, chronic cholecystitis findings were not identified in six specimens of those with uncomplicated gallstones. The risk factors have no influence on the development of gallstone-induced complications in children. Gallstones were cured with cholecystectomy; however, some complaints persisted in risk-free and uncomplicated gallstones. We think that if there are no risk factors in patients with uncomplicated gallstones, the patients should not receive surgery but be closely monitored.