Gallbladder stones during pregnancy: are we doing the right thing in Mexico?

OBJECTIVE

To present the treatment of choice and approach in pregnant and postpartum women with a diagnosis of gallstones in Mexico and to compare it with the recommendations of international guidelines.

METHOD: Observational, descriptive, and retrospective study based on information from the 2019 Dynamic Cubes database of pregnant women diagnosed with cholecystitis and/or cholelithiasis who had undergone cholecystectomy.

RESULTS

During 2019, 937 patients with cholelithiasis and cholecystitis were registered, 516 (55%) pregnant and 421 (45%) in puerperium. 91.47% of cases were managed with medical treatment and 8.53% with cholecystectomy, with predominance in the open approach in 63.75% of cases. Mortality was nil in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite current international guidelines recommending early laparoscopic cholecystectomy in pregnant or puerperal women, in Mexico medical treatment, delayed cholecystectomy and its open approach are still privileged.