European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Gall stone disease (GSD) being rare in children needs particular attention. Gallstones, when associated with bile duct stones, require ERCP and clearance of bile ducts. The safety and periprocedural course of ERCP and cholecystectomy in children with gall stone disease along with choledocholithiasis have sparingly been studied previously. Material and methods: We did a retrospective analysis of the data retrieved from electronic healthcare records. This data comprised demographic, laboratory, details of ERCP, cholecystectomy and periprocedural course of the patients. Results: In our centre, 43 children underwent cholecystectomy from April 2015 to May 2020. Open cholecystectomy (OC) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) were performed in two and forty-one children. All patients were symptomatic at the time of presentation, recurrent biliary colic being the most common symptom. Among the 43 children, four children and seven children were obese and overweight,
respectively. The only significant risk factor accountable for gall stone disease was obesity. Preoperative ERCP was required in 7 patients; among them, 2 had cholangitis. No significant complications noted in any of the children who underwent ERCP. Conclusion: ERCP is a safe therapeutic tool for choledocholithiasis in children, as it is in adults. ERCP followed by cholecystectomy in children is the most common technique for addressing combined gall bladder and bile duct stones. Cholecystectomy is useful in children with typical biliary symptoms. The only significant risk factor for GSD in our patients was obesity