Impact of Ursodiol on Number of Cholecystectomies Performed After Bariatric Surgery.

Background: The risk of gallstone formation is greater in obese patients; paradoxically, the rapid weight loss after bariatric surgery (BS) is also a great contributor to cholelithiasis and biliary disease. While concomitant cholecystectomy has been used to mitigate this issue, the demand for a less invasive prophylaxis was met by ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). This study aims to evaluate the impact of UDCA on the incidence of cholecystectomies after BS.

Methods: This retrospective chart review included all primary and revisional bariatric procedures. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the postoperative use of daily 600 mg UDCA for 6 months (group 2) or no UDCA use (group 1) to assess its impact on the incidence of cholecystectomy. A subanalysis compared baseline demographics, weight loss performance, and the number of cholecystectomies between groups.

Results: In a cohort of 8433 patients, 5061 were in group 1, and 3372 were in group 2 who received UDCA. The total number of cholecystectomies after BS was 164 (1.9% of the cohort): 146 in group 1 (2.9%) and 18 in group 2 (0.5%) (P<0.00). A subanalysis revealed no significant differences in preoperative weight, body mass index (BMI), and postoperative total body weight loss (TBWL%) between the groups. Nonetheless, incidences of cholecystectomy after biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS), Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB), and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) were greater in group 1, 8% versus 1.4%, 4.4% versus 0.1%, and 1.7% versus 0.4%, respectively (all P<0.05).

Conclusion: UDCA is associated with lower incidence rates of cholecystectomy after BS.