Gallstone among Patients Presenting to the Department of Surgery in a Tertiary Care Center: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION

Gallstone is the most common biliary pathology. Once thought of as a disease of the western world, the incidence and burden of cholelithiasis are increasing in Asia. Its literature from Nepal is however still primitive. The study aimed to find out the prevalence of gallstone among patients presenting to the Department of Surgery in a tertiary care centre.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients presenting to the Department of Surgery after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Registration number: 625). The study was conducted from 1 June 2022 to 1 November 2022. Patients with age more than 18 years were included and patients less than 18 years of age, having common bile duct stones, suffering from biliary malignancy or having an immunocompromised state were excluded. Convenience sampling was done. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.

RESULTS

Among 1700 patients, gallstone was seen in 200 (11.76%) (10.23-13.29, 95% Confidence Interval). Among the 200 patients, 133 of them (66.50%) were females. Multiple gallstones were present in 118 (59%) cases whereas 82 (41%) cases had a single stone.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of gallstone was found to be similar as compared to other reported literature.

KEYWORDS: cholelithiasis; gallbladder; prevalence.