Pattern of gall stone (GS) size & number in 1263 otherwise normal Sudanese subjects & their impact in the development of gall bladder disease & complications at the National Centre of Gastroentrology & Hepatology in Sudan during the last 10 years

Abstract

1263 cases of GS, examined by ultrasound to decide size & number of stones. Size of stones was categorized into sand, tiny(1-4 mm), small(4-1.0 cm), medium(11-20 mm), big(21-30 mm), large(>30 mm), mixed stones(variable sizes). Number of stones categorized into; single, 2 stones, 3 stones, few( 20) & packed(no GB free space). Females scored (74.4%) GS cases. Prevalence of GS significantly increased above the age of 30years. Single stone was the predominant stone (21.2%) followed by multiple (19.6%), least was packed stones(3.1%), number didn't increase significantly with age while size significantly increased with age. Commonest stone size in both sexes was small stone in (32.1%) of cases. Predominance of fine, big & variable GS in females in 81.6%, 85% & 83.7% in total cases respectively. GS with normal gall bladder constituted (55.3%), Acute cholycystitis, had the highest prevalence of (28%) among gall bladder disease, chronic cholycystitis (16.7%). Gall bladder disease had no correlation with stone size & number. Risk of Gall bladder obstruction was significantly increased with single gall stone. Total complications of pericholycystic fluid, empyema, perforation, gangrene, emphysema, pancreatitis, Mirrizi, fistula & mucocoele occured in (9.8%) of cases. The predominant complication was pancreatitis (36.3%) of total complications one third of which had additional pseudopancreatic cyst. Pancreatitis was exclusively related to stone size Conclusion: No correlation of GS size & number to sex, single gall stone was the most prevalent stone number & carried a higher risk of gall bladder obstruction & higher incidence of acute cholycystitis. Acute cholycystitis was the commonest gall bladder disease. Pancreatitis was the most prevalent complication related to Stones