The Incidence and Surgical Treatment of Gallstone Cholecystitis in Rural Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Cholecystolithiasis and its complications remain to be one of the leading burdens in general surgery which require surgical intervention in majority of cases. In Saudi Arabia, this pathology has huge impact on its health system and society. In current management of acute and chronic cholecystitis as a result of cholecystolithisis, laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become a procedure of choice. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to estimate the incidence of cholecystitis as the complication of cholecystolithiasis in central rural area of Saudi Arabia with relatively large population and analyze current management outcome in selected group of patients, who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure. Multiple criteria including demographics, results of investigations and surgical outcome were analyzed and compared. The incidence of acute cholecystitis in this study was 4.4/100,000 of population per year with prevalence of 24% and female to male ratio 11.9:1. The results demonstrated satisfactory surgical outcomes with low complications rate and cost effectiveness.