Bile gastritis occurring after cholecystectomy.

Bile gastritis has been reported as being related mainly to gastric surgery until recently. This report deals with the relationship of cholecystectomy to the development of bile gastritis. A total of 2563 upper gastrointestinal cases occurring over a 9-yr period were reviewed. One hundred seven cases of bile gastritis were present. Of the latter, 51% occurred after cholecystectomy only, 24% after gastric surgery only, 11% occurred after both a cholecystectomy and gastric surgery, and 14% did not occur after either type of surgery. Clinical endoscopic and histological data are presented concerning all four groups. Unlike other reports, most of the lesions described here were generalized and not distal. A high percentage of psychiatric problems were present in these patients. Of the nonsurgical group 36% had gallstones. The results of medical treatment were poor. There appears to be a relationship between the development of bile gastritis and previous cholecystectomy. There may be some relationship between gallbladder disease and be some relationship between gallbladder disease and bile gastritis as well.