| Theme | Disease of Liver, Gallbladder, Spleen, and Pancreas in Dialysis Patients | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Diseases of the gallbladder in chronic hemodialysis patients | |
| Publish Date | 2002/06 | |
| Author | Yo Kamiizumi | Department of Surgery, Dialysis Center, Iwamizawa Municipal General Hospital |
| Author | Kenji Abe | Department of Surgery, Dialysis Center, Iwamizawa Municipal General Hospital |
| Author | Kouji Ito | Department of Surgery, Dialysis Center, Iwamizawa Municipal General Hospital |
| Author | Keiji Ikuta | Department of Surgery, Dialysis Center, Iwamizawa Municipal General Hospital |
| [ Summary ] | (Gallstones) It has been reported that the prevalence of gallstones is 3-6% in healthy people, while it is as high as 9-22% in dialysis patients. We performed ultrasonographic examinations on 95 hemodialysis patients of which 10 cases (10.5%) showed the presence of gallstones. However, if the cases which had had the stones before dialysis initiation were excluded and the cholecystectomized cases after the initiation were added, the prevalence of gallstones among hemodialysis patients was estimated to be 8.6% (8/93). Therefore we cannnot say that the prevalence of gallstones in dialysis patients is extremely high. Symptomatic stones are not so common. (Gallbladder polyp) The occurrence rate of gallbladder polyps was once reported to be 3-7% in healthy people, while it was 2-8% in dialysis patients. But reccent literature describes an increased rate of 16% or 45%. It was 25.3% (24/95) in our institute. Most of them were small polyps. (Carcinoma of the gallbladder) It is generally said that the cancer rate increases in accordance with aging and the increased presence of gallstones. Consequently, careful attention should be paid, especially to the aged with gallstones and the patients with symptomatic stones or polyps, though cancer is not apparently prevalent among dialysis patients. (Laparoscopic cholecystectomy) This method is now most common for removing the gallbladder and is safely applicable also to dialysis patients who have a bleeding tendency and fragile tissues. |
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