Evaluation of the clinical impact of preoperative gastroscopy in patients undergoing cholecystectomy: A retrospective study

INTRODUCTION: The role of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in the preoperative period for patients scheduled for cholecystectomy due to cholelithiasis is controversial. Some studies recommend routine application, while others suggest selective application. Our study aimed to evaluate EGD findings in patients who underwent EGD before cholecystectomy.
METHODS: In our single-center retrospective study, patients who underwent cholecystectomy between 2020 and 2023 and had an EGD in the preoperative period were included. Patients who did not have a preoperative EGD, those who underwent cholecystectomy as part of another surgical procedure, and those with missing data were excluded from the study. Patients were evaluated based on demographic, clinical, endoscopic, and pathological findings.
RESULTS: A total of 336 patients were analyzed. The median age was 53 years (range 24–87), and 216 (64.3%) of the patients were women. Endoscopic pathology was detected in 180 (53.6%) of the patients. Histopathological abnormalities were detected in 199 (87.3%) of 228 patients. Helicobacter pylori (HP) positivity was detected in 90 patients (39.5%), atrophic gastritis in 45 patients (19.7%), and intestinal metaplasia in 41 patients (18%). Statistically, significantly more active and severe gastritis findings were observed in mucosal areas that appeared endoscopically pathological (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the routine application of EGD before cholecystectomy may impact the clinical approach.