The effect of laparoscopic cholecystectomy on the rate of gastric emptying: A prospective, randomized clinical study

Abstract

Following laparoscopic surgery gastrointestinal motility can change to a greater or lesser degree. Although, almost 
every kind of study performed about laparoscopic cholecysctectomy, gastric emptying has been evaluated in a few 
studies. The aim of this prospective, randomized study is to investigate the effect of laparoscopic cholecystectomy on 
gastric emptying time. Twenty patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (female/male 17/3) and 16 healthy 
volunteers (female/male 14/2) were enrolled into the study. Following an 8-hour fast, one minute scintigraphic images 
were obtained in the anterior and posterior projection immediately, and 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after a 500 µCi (18 MBq) 
Tc99m sulphur colloid labelled egg, 2 slices of bread and 150 mL of orange juice ingestion. The gastric half emptying 
time (T1/2 min) was found while the patient was standing. A significant difference of gastric emptying values was 
found between the patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy and the Control group (p<0.005). Gastric 
emptying of solid meal in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy was slower than in the Control group. 
Although, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe and minimally invasive surgical procedure, it may have an adverse 
effect on the gastric emptying time. In the early postoperative period, minimal abdominal discomfort and dyspepsia 
may occur which may be associated with the delay in gastric emptying in patients undergoing laparoscopic 
cholecystectomy