The effect of cholecystectomy on bile reflux. An experimental study.

In an experimental study the effect of cholecystectomy on bile reflux into the stomach was investigated. Five dogs were used and a large number of bile reflux measurements carried out (115 tests). During each test, reflux was measured over a continuous period of 6 hours by estimating the concentration of bile phospholipids (lecithin and lysolecithin) in the gastric juice. The pre-cholecystectomy phospholipid concentration in the stomach was 7,751 +/- 1,621 mg/dl (mean +/- SEM) and the post-cholecystectomy concentration 35,181 +/- 10,653 mg/dl (P less than 0,05). Two dogs developed gastric mucosal changes, mainly foveolar hyperplasia. The importance of measuring reflux repeatedly over long periods of time in order to get a more representative picture of reflux is stressed.