Ultrasonographic Study of Gallbladder Wall Thickness and Emptying in Cirrhotic Patients without Gallstones

Joint Authors

Scalisi, Giuseppe
Loreno, Massimiliano
Virgilio, Carla
Brogna, Alfio
Bucceri, Anna Maria
Travali, Salvatore

Source

Gastroenterology Research and Practice

Issue

Vol. 2009, Issue 2009 (31 Dec. 2009), pp.1-5, 5 p.

Publisher

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Publication Date

2009-08-10

Country of Publication

Egypt

No. of Pages

5

Main Subjects

Diseases

Abstract EN

Background and Aim.

Gallbladder wall thickening and impaired contractility are currently reported in cirrhotic patients and often related to portal hypertension and hepatic failure.

The purpose of this work was to evaluate, by ultrasonographic method, gallbladder wall thickness and gallbladder emptying after a standard meal in normal subjects and in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis without gallstones.

Methods.

Twenty-three patients with Child-Pugh class A liver cirrhosis and twenty healthy controls were studied.

Gallbladder wall thickness (GWT), gallbladder fasting volume (FV), residual volume (RV), and maximum percentage of emptying (%E) were calculated.

Measurements of mean portal velocity, portal vein flow, and serum albumin were performed too.

Statistical analysis was assessed by Student's “t test” for unpaired data.

Results.

GWT was 0.60±0.22 cm in cirrhotic patients and 0.21±0.06 cm in controls (P<.0001).

FV and RV were, respectively, 37.8±3.7 cm3 and 21.8±3 cm3 in cirrhotic patients, 21.9±4.2 cm3 and 4.6±2.2 cm3 in healthy volunteers (P<.0001).

%E was smaller in cirrhotics (42.6±7.8) as compared to controls (80.3±7.2; P<.0001).

Conclusions.

In patients with compensated liver cirrhosis without gallstones gallbladder wall thickness is increased whereas its contractility is reduced.

These early structural and functional alterations could play a role in gallstone formation in more advanced stages of the disease.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Loreno, Massimiliano& Travali, Salvatore& Bucceri, Anna Maria& Scalisi, Giuseppe& Virgilio, Carla& Brogna, Alfio. 2009. Ultrasonographic Study of Gallbladder Wall Thickness and Emptying in Cirrhotic Patients without Gallstones. Gastroenterology Research and Practice،Vol. 2009, no. 2009, pp.1-5.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-490216

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Loreno, Massimiliano…[et al.]. Ultrasonographic Study of Gallbladder Wall Thickness and Emptying in Cirrhotic Patients without Gallstones. Gastroenterology Research and Practice No. 2009 (2009), pp.1-5.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-490216

American Medical Association (AMA)

Loreno, Massimiliano& Travali, Salvatore& Bucceri, Anna Maria& Scalisi, Giuseppe& Virgilio, Carla& Brogna, Alfio. Ultrasonographic Study of Gallbladder Wall Thickness and Emptying in Cirrhotic Patients without Gallstones. Gastroenterology Research and Practice. 2009. Vol. 2009, no. 2009, pp.1-5.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-490216

Data Type

Journal Articles

Language

English

Notes

Includes bibliographical references

Record ID

BIM-490216