Pancreaticobiliary Reflux in Patients Without Cholelithiasis

Is Pancreaticobiliary Reflux in Patients With Cholelithiasis and Without Cholelithiasis a Normal Phenomenon?

Pancreaticobiliary reflux has been found in patients with cholelithiasis and gallbladder cancer associated with normal pancreaticobiliary union. However, the presence of pancreaticobiliary reflux has not been studied in patients without gallstones (healthy gallbladders).

The authors believe that pancreaticobiliary reflux might be a normal phenomenon in patients with and without gallstones, although in patients with cholelithiasis it might constitute a pathological condition associated with dismotility of the biliary tree and the sphincter of Oddi.

The objective of this study is to measure the levels of amylase and lipase in gallbladder bile of patients without gallstones and compare these values to the values of amylase and lipase of patients with gallstones and normal pancreaticobiliary union evidenced by intraoperative cholangiography.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age older than 15 years of age
• Elective surgery
• Normal intraoperative cholangiography
• Normal preoperative serum amylase and lipase values

Exclusion Criteria:

• Common bile duct stones
• Anatomic anomalies at the pancreaticobiliary junction evidenced by intraoperative cholangiography
• Altered preoperative amylase and lipase levels
• Altered preoperative hepatic function tests
• Emergency surgery