The “bile preservation” versus “bile cutting” debate

  Conventional cholecystectomy is a safe and feasible procedure, even in the case of severe adhesions in the abdomen of the gallbladder that cannot be easily separated, a major cholecystectomy can be performed by rotation, preserving the abdomen and removing or cauterizing the mucosal layer. Open cholecystectomy is rarely fatal due to surgical technique, but the postoperative period can bring some complications as follows.  (i) Wound and abdominal cavity infection.  ②Post cholecystectomy syndrome: after removal of the still functional gallbladder, the change in pressure of the biliary system affects the normal physiological adjustment and bile excretion function, and the sphincter of Oddi is in a state of hypertonia, triggering a series of dyskinesia syndromes.  (iii) Effects on digestive function: Bile reflux leads to the development of gastritis. The continuous flow of bile acids into the intestine, the accelerated hepatic-intestinal circulation of bile salts and impaired absorption of bile acids cause a large amount of bile salts to be lost with feces, and the concentration of bile acids in the intestinal lumen increases, which stimulates the intestinal mucosa and leads to increased secretion of water and electrolytes, and eventually bilious diarrhea occurs.  ④Increased incidence of colorectal cancer: bile acids enter the intestine and are dehydroxylated and oxidized by bacteria, and the proportion of secondary bile acids increases, which can significantly increase the incidence of colorectal cancer. Where patients with gallbladder stone disease have a history of right upper abdominal pain and cholecystitis, and the gallbladder has lost its function and has pathological changes, the adaptation of “gallbladder cutting” has proved to be more beneficial than harmful, and the effect is certain (excluding the problem of biliary stones inside and outside the liver).  The causes of gallstones go through three stages, namely, increased cholesterol in the bile, predominance of nucleogenic factors over antinuclear factors, and gallbladder dysfunction. However, the above-mentioned indications for “cholecystectomy” must be followed. Performing “cholecystectomy” on a functioning gallbladder with no obvious pathology can do more harm than good. Gallbladder dissection and stone extraction should be promoted. Applying the principles of evidence-based medicine, let the evidence speak for itself as to whether “bile preservation” or “biliary excision” should be used.