Management delle colecistopatie in età pediatrica. Aspetti medici e chirurgici

Management of gallbladder disease in pediatric population. Medical and surgical aspects. BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Although gallbladder disease is relatively uncommon in the pediatric population, its incidence has been rising in recent years. The Aim was to evaluate the management of children with gallbladder diseas at Pediatric and Surgical Department of Second University of Naples. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of our most recent 9-years experience with management of gallbladder disease in pediatric population between April, 2000 and February, 2009. Data were collected by an tab included patient demographics, clinical history, etiology, presentation,gallstones number and aspects, laboratory and imaging studies, histologic findings, therapy and follow-up. Results: The mean age was 6,6 years. Fifthy patients were treated with cholecystectomy and in no case a postoperative complication was reported. Nine patients with asymptomatic gallstones received no treatment and were followed with clinical and echographic controls; in no case the development of complications was reported. Conclusion: In patients with asymptomatic gallstones is useful a conservative therapy with clinical and echographic controls. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was confirmed to be an efficacy and safe tretment for pediatric gallstones.