Management of acute mesenteric ischaemia: Results of a worldwide survey.

BACKGROUND: Acute mesenteric ischaemia (AMI) is a condition with high mortality. This survey assesses current attitudes and practices to manage AMI worldwide. METHODS: A questionnaire survey about the practices of diagnosing and managing AMI, endorsed by several specialist societies, was sent to different medical specialists and hospitals worldwide. Data from individual health care professionals and from medical teams were collected. RESULTS: We collected 493 individual forms from 71 countries and 94 team forms from 34 countries. Almost half of respondents were surgeons, and most of the responding teams (70%) were led by surgeons. Most of the respondents indicated that diagnosis of AMI is often delayed but rarely missed. Emergency revascularisation is often considered for patients with AMI but rarely in cases of transmural ischaemia (intestinal infarction). Responses from team hospitals with a dedicated special unit (14 team forms) indicated more aggressive revascularisation. Abdominopelvic CT-scan with intravenous contrast was suggested as the most useful diagnostic test, indicated by approximately 90% of respondents. Medical history and risk factors were thought to be more important in diagnosis of AMI without transmural ischaemia, whereas for intestinal infarction, plasma lactate concentrations and surgical exploration were considered more useful. In elderly patients, a palliative approach is often chosen over extensive bowel resection. There was a large variability in anticoagulant treatment, as well as in timing of surgery to restore bowel continuity. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed diagnosis of AMI is common despite wide availability of an adequate imaging modality, i.e. CT-scan. Large variability in treatment approaches exists, indicating the need for updated guidelines. Increased awareness and knowledge of AMI may improve current practice until more robust evidence becomes available. Adherence to the existing guidelines may help in improving differences in treatment and outcomes.

Nutritional support for critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. / Ernæring hos kritisk syke intensivpasienter.

Patients in intensive care have increased nutritional needs but are often incapable of eating independently. When should intravenous parenteral nutrition be started, and what is the optimal dose? Here we review the recently updated European guidelines on nutritional support in intensive care patients.

Acute intestinal failure: International multicenter point-of-prevalence study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Intestinal failure (IF) is defined from a requirement or intravenous supplementation due to failing capacity to absorb nutrients and fluids. Acute IF is an acute, potentially reversible form of IF. We aimed to identify the prevalence, underlying causes and outcomes of acute IF. METHODS: This point-of-prevalence study included all adult patients hospitalized in acute care hospitals and receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) on a study day. The reason for PN and the mechanism of IF (if present) were documented by local investigators and reviewed by an expert panel. RESULTS: Twenty-three hospitals (19 university, 4 regional) with a total capacity of 16,356 acute care beds and 1237 intensive care unit (ICU) beds participated in this study. On the study day, 338 patients received PN (21 patients/1000 acute care beds) and 206 (13/1000) were categorized as acute IF. The categorization of reason for PN was revised in 64 cases (18.9% of total) in consensus between the expert panel and investigators. Hospital mortality of all study patients was 21.5%; the median hospital stay was 36 days. Patients with acute IF had a hospital mortality of 20.5% and median hospital stay of 38 days (P > 0.05 for both outcomes). Disordered gut motility (e.g. ileus) was the most common mechanism of acute IF, and 71.5% of patients with acute IF had undergone abdominal surgery. Duration of PN of ≥42 days was identified as being the best cut-off predicting hospital mortality within 90 days. PN ≥ 42 days, age, sepsis and ICU admission were independently associated with 90-day hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Around 2% of adult patients in acute care hospitals received PN, 60% of them due to acute IF. High 90-day hospital mortality and long hospital stay were observed in patients receiving PN, whereas presence of acute IF did not additionally influence these outcomes. Duration of PN was associated with increased 90-day hospital mortality.

Perioperative Infusion of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Prevents Insulin Resistance After Surgical Trauma in Female Pigs.

Insulin resistance is an independent negative predictor of outcome after elective surgery and increases mortality among surgical patients in intensive care. The incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) potentiates glucose-induced insulin release from the pancreas but may also increase insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle and directly suppress hepatic glucose release. Here, we investigated whether a perioperative infusion of GLP-1 could counteract the development of insulin resistance after surgery. Pigs were randomly assigned to three groups; surgery/control, surgery/GLP-1, and sham/GLP-1. Both surgery groups underwent major abdominal surgery. Whole-body glucose disposal (WGD) and endogenous glucose release (EGR) were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively using D-[6,6-2H2]-glucose infusion in combination with hyperinsulinemic euglycemic step-clamping. In the surgery/control group, peripheral insulin sensitivity (i.e., WGD) was reduced by 44% relative to preoperative conditions, whereas the corresponding decline was only 9% for surgery/GLP-1 (P < 0.05). Hepatic insulin sensitivity (i.e., EGR) remained unchanged in the surgery/control group but was enhanced after GLP-1 infusion in both surgery and sham animals (40% and 104%, respectively, both P < 0.05). Intraoperative plasma glucose increased in surgery/control (∼20%) but remained unchanged in both groups receiving GLP-1 (P < 0.05). GLP-1 diminished an increase in postoperative glucagon levels but did not affect skeletal muscle glycogen or insulin signaling proteins after surgery. We show that GLP-1 improves intraoperative glycemic control, diminishes peripheral insulin resistance after surgery, and suppresses EGR. This study supports the use of GLP-1 to prevent development of postoperative insulin resistance.

Changes in nutritional care after implementing national guidelines-a 10-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In 2004, a survey conducted in Scandinavia documented insufficient knowledge in nutrition care among doctors and nurses. The survey also revealed a significant discrepancy in nutritional practice, where Norway ranked lowest, thus leading to several actions including elaboration of national guidelines. The aim of this study was to evaluate potential changes in nutritional practice, as well as assessing barriers to nutrition therapy, 10 years after the former study. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In the first half of 2014, a total of 4000 doctors and nurses received a questionnaire, similar to the one used in 2004. The questions dealt with nutritional practice, routines, knowledge, barriers, and use of clinical dietitians (CDs) in the hospitals. RESULTS: The response rate was 22%. Routines in nutritional practice were significantly improved. The level of knowledge among respondents were increased, but lack of knowledge and lack of assignment of responsibility were still important barriers. The patients' contradiction could be a barrier to the use of enteral nutrition. CDs are used in a small amount of patients, and wards with good nutritional routines have a better cooperation with CDs than wards with insufficient routines. CONCLUSIONS: Routines in clinical nutrition have improved from 2004 to 2014. Barriers in the daily practice among health care workers like lack of knowledge and lack of assignment of responsibility are still important, and health care professionals seem to let the patient himself or herself be a barrier to the use of enteral nutrition.

Economy matters to fight against malnutrition: Results from a multicenter survey.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Malnutrition represents a serious health care threat, as it increases morbidity, mortality and health care cost. The effective screening and treatment with enteral (EN) or parenteral (PN) nutrition are the key elements of the policy called Optimal Nutrition Care for All (ONCA). The study tried to analyze the impact of the state's economy on the implementation of EN and PN to define its role in ONCA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: an international survey in twenty two European countries was performed between January and December 2014. An electronic questionnaire was distributed to 22 representatives of clinical nutrition (PEN) societies. The questionnaire comprised questions regarding country economy, reimbursement, education and the use EN and PN. Return rate was 90.1% (n = 20). RESULTS: EN and PN were used in all countries surveyed (100%), but to different extent. The country's income significantly influenced the reimbursement for EN and PN (p < 0.05). It was also associated with the overall use of tube feeding and PN (p = 0.05), but not with the use of oral nutritional supplements (p = 0.165). The use of both, EN and PN at hospitals was not depended on the economy (p > 0.05). Education was actively carried out in all countries, however the teaching at the pre-graduate level was the least widespread, and also correlated with the country income (p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that economic situation influences all aspects of ONCA, including education and treatment. The reimbursement for EN and PN seemed to be the key factor of effective campaign against malnutrition.

Management of acute intestinal failure: A position paper from the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) Special Interest Group.

Intestinal failure (IF) is the consequence of a reduction of gut function below the minimum necessary for the absorption of nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract. Types I and II comprise acute intestinal failure (AIF). Although its prevalence is relatively low, type II AIF is serious and requires specialist multidisciplinary care, often for prolonged periods before its resolution. The key aspects are: sepsis control, fluid and electrolyte resuscitation, optimization of nutritional status, wound care, appropriate surgery and active rehabilitation. The ESPEN Acute Intestinal Failure Special Interest Group (AIF SIG) has devised this position paper to provide a state-of-the-art overview of the management of type II AIF and to point out areas for future research.

Skeletal muscle mitochondria exhibit decreased pyruvate oxidation capacity and increased ROS emission during surgery-induced acute insulin resistance.

Development of acute insulin resistance represents a negative factor after surgery, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We investigated the postoperative changes in insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial function, enzyme activities, and release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skeletal muscle and liver in pigs on the 2nd postoperative day after major abdominal surgery. Peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity were assessed by D-[6,6-²H2]glucose infusion and hyperinsulinemic euglycemic step clamping. Surgical trauma elicited a decline in peripheral insulin sensitivity (∼34%, P<0.01), whereas hepatic insulin sensitivity remained unchanged. Intramyofibrillar (IFM) and subsarcolemma mitochondria (SSM) isolated from skeletal muscle showed a postoperative decline in ADP-stimulated respiration (V(ADP)) for pyruvate (∼61%, P<0.05, and ∼40%, P<0.001, respectively), whereas V(ADP) for glutamate and palmitoyl-L-carnitine (PC) was unchanged. Mitochondrial leak respiration with PC was increased in SSM (1.9-fold, P<0.05) and IFM (2.5-fold, P<0.05), indicating FFA-induced uncoupling. The activity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) was reduced (∼32%, P<0.01) and positively correlated to the decline in peripheral insulin sensitivity (r=0.748, P<0.05). All other mitochondrial enzyme activities were unchanged. No changes in mitochondrial function in liver were observed. Mitochondrial H2O2 and O2·â» emission was measured spectrofluorometrically, and H2O2 was increased in SSM, IFM, and liver mitochondria (∼2.3-, ∼2.5-, and ∼2.3-fold, respectively, all P<0.05). We conclude that an impairment in skeletal muscle mitochondrial PDC activity and pyruvate oxidation capacity arises in the postoperative phase along with increased ROS emission, suggesting a link between mitochondrial function and development of acute postoperative insulin resistance.

ESPEN endorsed recommendations. Definition and classification of intestinal failure in adults.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Intestinal failure (IF) is not included in the list of PubMed Mesh terms, as failure is the term describing a state of non functioning of other organs, and as such is not well recognized. No scientific society has yet devised a formal definition and classification of IF. The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism guideline committee endorsed its "home artificial nutrition and chronic IF" and "acute IF" special interest groups to write recommendations on these issues. METHODS: After a Medline Search, in December 2013, for "intestinal failure" and "review"[Publication Type], the project was developed using the Delphi round methodology. The final consensus was reached on March 2014, after 5 Delphi rounds and two live meetings. RESULTS: The recommendations comprise the definition of IF, a functional and a pathophysiological classification for both acute and chronic IF and a clinical classification of chronic IF. IF was defined as "the reduction of gut function below the minimum necessary for the absorption of macronutrients and/or water and electrolytes, such that intravenous supplementation is required to maintain health and/or growth". CONCLUSIONS: This formal definition and classification of IF, will facilitate communication and cooperation among professionals in clinical practice, organization and management, and research.

Advances in clinical nutrition in GI surgery.

This review addresses recent relevant advances to clinical nutrition regarding gastrointestinal disease surgery. Medline Ovid, EMBASE and Central were searched systematically in April 2014. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials and observational studies evaluating nutritional support in gastrointestinal surgery published within 5 years. The review included 56 relevant studies. Themes were: nutrition screening and risk factors predict outcome; preoperative nutritional support; shortening fasting periods and including carbohydrate solutions; early nutrition after surgery; immune modulating nutrition; synbiotics, growth hormone, omega-3 and oral, enteral and parenteral nutrition in combination. Screening for nutritional risk is profound, with special focus on dietary intake in the past week. Age and severity of disease need to be included in the screening system. Patients at severe nutritional risk benefit from nutritional therapy before surgery. New standards are developing quickly and clinical guidelines on surgery should include updated knowledge within clinical nutrition.

Preoperative carbohydrate supplementation attenuates post-surgery insulin resistance via reduced inflammatory inhibition of the insulin-mediated restraint on muscle pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 expression.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We hypothesized that the so far poorly understood improvement in postoperative insulin sensitivity, when surgery is preceded by a carbohydrate (CHO) drink, occurs via attenuation of skeletal muscle inflammatory responses to surgery, improved insulin signaling and attenuated expression of muscle pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) 4. METHODS: Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies, collected before and after major abdominal surgery and during postoperative hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamping from 16 pigs randomized to either 200 ml of a CHO-supplemented drink 2 h before surgery (CHO, 25 g; n = 8), or preoperative overnight fasting (fasted; n = 8), were analyzed by fast qRT-PCR and IR-Western blotting. RESULTS: During clamping, expression of IKKß, SOCS3 and the ratio of phosphorylated/total JNK2 proteins were lower in the CHO group than in the fasted group (-1.0 vs. 2.9-fold, P < 0.001; -0.6 vs. 3.2-fold, P < 0.01; and -0.5 vs. 1.1-fold, P < 0.02, respectively). Furthermore, the ratio of Ser(307)-phosphorylated (inhibition)/total IRS1 protein was reduced only in the CHO group (-2.4 fold, P < 0.02), whereas FOXO1 phosphorylation (inactivation), which correlated negatively with PDK4 mRNA (r(2) = 0.275, P < 0.05), was lower in the CHO group than in the fasted group (-1.1-fold, P > 0.05 vs. -2.3-fold, P = 0.05). Post-surgery, PDK4 mRNA increased ∼20-fold (P < 0.01) in both groups, but was reversed to a greater extent by insulin in the CHO group (-40.5 vs. -22.7-fold, P < 0.05), resulting in 5-fold lower PDK4 protein levels, which correlated negatively with insulin-stimulated whole-body glucose disposal rates (r(2) = -0.265, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative carbohydrate supplementation was found to ameliorate postoperative insulin sensitivity by reducing muscle inflammatory responses and improved insulin inhibition of FOXO1-mediated PDK4 mRNA and protein expression after surgery.

Single-dose carbohydrate treatment in the immediate preoperative phase diminishes development of postoperative peripheral insulin resistance.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Preoperative oral carbohydrate (CHO) treatment is known to reduce postoperative insulin resistance, but the necessity of a preoperative evening dose is uncertain. We investigated the effect of single-dose CHO treatment two hours before surgery on postoperative insulin sensitivity. METHODS: Thirty two pigs (∼ 30 kg) were randomized to 4 groups (n = 8) followed by D-[6,6-(2)H2] glucose infusion and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic step clamping. Two groups received a morning drink of 25 g carbohydrate (CHO/surgery and CHO/control). Animals in the other two groups were fasted overnight (fasting/surgery and fasting/control). Counter-regulatory hormones, free fatty acids (FFA) and liver and muscle glycogen content were measured serially. RESULTS: Glucose infusion rates needed to maintain euglycemia were higher after CHO/surgery than fasting/surgery during low (8.54 ± 0.82 vs. 6.15 ± 0.27 mg/kg/min, P < 0.05), medium (17.26 ± 1.08 vs. 14.02 ± 0.56 mg/kg/min, P < 0.02) and high insulin clamping (19.83 ± 0.95 vs. 17.16 ± 0.58 mg/kg/min, P < 0.05). The control groups exhibited identical insulin sensitivity. Compared to their respective controls, insulin-stimulated whole-body glucose disposal was significantly reduced after fasting/surgery (-41%, P < 0.001), but not after CHO/surgery (-16%, P = 0.180). CHO reduced FFA perioperatively (P < 0.05) and during the clamp procedures (P < 0.02), but did not affect hepatic insulin sensitivity, liver and muscle glycogen content or counter-regulatory hormone profiles. A strong negative correlation between peripheral insulin sensitivity and mean cortisol levels was seen in fasted (R = -0.692, P = 0.003), but not in CHO loaded pigs. CONCLUSIONS: Single-dose preoperative CHO treatment is sufficient to reduce postoperative insulin resistance, possibly due to the antilipolytic effects and antagonist properties of preoperative hyperinsulinemia on the suppressant actions of cortisol on carbohydrate oxidation.

Nutrition in chronic pancreatitis.

The pancreas is a major player in nutrient digestion. In chronic pancreatitis both exocrine and endocrine insufficiency may develop leading to malnutrition over time. Maldigestion is often a late complication of chronic pancreatic and depends on the severity of the underlying disease. The severity of malnutrition is correlated with two major factors: (1) malabsorption and depletion of nutrients (e.g., alcoholism and pain) causes impaired nutritional status; and (2) increased metabolic activity due to the severity of the disease. Nutritional deficiencies negatively affect outcome if they are not treated. Nutritional assessment and the clinical severity of the disease are important for planning any nutritional intervention. Good nutritional practice includes screening to identify patients at risk, followed by a thoroughly nutritional assessment and nutrition plan for risk patients. Treatment should be multidisciplinary and the mainstay of treatment is abstinence from alcohol, pain treatment, dietary modifications and pancreatic enzyme supplementation. To achieve energy-end protein requirements, oral supplementation might be beneficial. Enteral nutrition may be used when patients do not have sufficient calorie intake as in pylero-duodenal-stenosis, inflammation or prior to surgery and can be necessary if weight loss continues. Parenteral nutrition is very seldom used in patients with chronic pancreatitis and should only be used in case of GI-tract obstruction or as a supplement to enteral nutrition.

Hyperinsulinemic euglycemic step clamping with tracer glucose infusion and labeled glucose infusate for assessment of acute insulin resistance in pigs.

The present study aimed to establish hyperinsulinemic euglycemic step clamping with tracer glucose infusion and labeled glucose infusate (step hot-GINF HEC) for assessment of acute insulin resistance in anesthetized pigs and to arrange for combination with invasive investigative methods. Tracer enrichment was measured during D-[6,6-(2)H(2)]glucose infusion before and after surgical instrumentation (n = 8). Insulin dose-response characteristics were determined by two step hot-GINF HEC procedures, with accordingly labeled glucose infusates performed at a total of six insulin infusion rates ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 mU kg(-1) min(-1) (n = 8). Finally, three-step hot-GINF HEC (0.4, 1.2, and 2.0 mU kg(-1) min(-1)) was performed subsequent to major surgical trauma (n = 8). Tracer enrichment, basal glucose kinetics, and circulating levels of C-peptide, cortisol, glucagon, and catecholamines were not influenced by surgical instrumentation. Mean intraindividual coefficient of variance levels for glucose infusion rates and repeatedly measured insulin, glucose, and tracer enrichment indicated stable clamping conditions. Basal and maximal insulin-stimulated glucose utilization was twice as high as in humans at approximately 5.5 and 21 mg kg(-1) min(-1). Surgical trauma elicited pronounced peripheral and moderate hepatic insulin unresponsiveness (45% lower whole body glucose disposal and 19% less suppressed endogenous glucose release) and apparently diminished metabolic insulin clearance. Step hot-GINF HEC seems suitable for assessment of acute insulin resistance in anesthetized pigs, and combination with invasive investigative methods requiring surgical instrumentation can be accomplished without the premises for utilization of the technique being altered, but attention must be paid to alterations in metabolic insulin clearance.

Insufficient nutritional knowledge among health care workers?

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Though a great interest and willingness to nutrition therapy, there is an insufficient practice compared to the proposed ESPEN guidelines for nutrition therapy. The aim of this questionnaire was to study doctors and nurses' self-reported knowledge in nutritional practice, with focus on ESPEN's guidelines in nutritional screening, assessment and treatment. METHODS: A questionnaire about different aspects of nutritional practice was answered by 4512 doctors and nurses in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. RESULTS: The most common cause for insufficient nutritional practice was lack of nutritional knowledge. Twenty-five percent found it difficult to identify patient in need of nutritional therapy, 39% lacked techniques for identifying malnourished patients, and 53% found it difficult to calculate the patients' energy requirement and 66% lacked national guidelines for clinical nutrition. Twenty-eight percent answered that insufficient nutrition practice could lead to complications and prolonged hospital stay. Those that answered that their nutritional knowledge was good had also a better nutritional practice. CONCLUSION: The self-reported nutritional knowledge was inadequate among Scandinavian doctors and nurses. Increased nutritional knowledge seems to improve the nutritional practice. A combination of an integrated nutrition curriculum during the education, together with post-graduated education for both physicians and nurses should be established.

Acute responses of muscle protein metabolism to reduced blood flow reflect metabolic priorities for homeostasis.

The present experiment was designed to measure the synthetic and breakdown rates of muscle protein in the hindlimb of rabbits with or without clamping the femoral artery. l-[ring-(13)C(6)]phenylalanine was infused as a tracer for measurement of muscle protein kinetics by means of an arteriovenous model, tracer incorporation, and tracee release methods. The ultrasonic flowmeter, dye dilution, and microsphere methods were used to determine the flow rates in the femoral artery, in the leg, and in muscle capillary, respectively. The femoral artery flow accounted for 65% of leg flow. A 50% reduction in the femoral artery flow reduced leg flow by 28% and nutritive flow by 26%, which did not change protein synthetic or breakdown rate in leg muscle. Full clamp of the femoral artery reduced leg flow by 42% and nutritive flow by 59%, which decreased (P < 0.05) both the fractional synthetic rate from 0.19 +/- 0.05 to 0.14 +/- 0.03%/day and fractional breakdown rate from 0.28 +/- 0.07 to 0.23 +/- 0.09%/day of muscle protein. Neither the partial nor full clamp reduced (P = 0.27-0.39) the intracellular phenylalanine concentration or net protein balance in leg muscle. We conclude that the flow threshold to cause a fall of protein turnover rate in leg muscle was a reduction of 30-40% of the leg flow. The acute responses of muscle protein kinetics to the reductions in blood flow reflected the metabolic priorities to maintain muscle homeostasis. These findings cannot be extrapolated to more chronic conditions without experimental validation.

Nutritional routines and attitudes among doctors and nurses in Scandinavia: a questionnaire based survey.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hospital malnutrition is prevalent, but nutritional practice in hospitals has a low priority. To improve the quality in nutritional routine, ESPEN has developed standards to improve the inadequate and insufficient nutritional treatments seen today. However, there is a discrepancy between the standards and clinical practice. This study was conducted to investigate nutritional practice in different hospital settings in relation to these standards (e.g.: screening of all patients, assessment of at-risk patients) among Scandinavian doctors and nurses. METHODS: A questionnaire about nutritional attitudes and routine was mailed to doctors and nurses in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. RESULTS: Altogether, 4512 (1753 doctors, 2759 nurses) answered the questionnaire. Both screening and assessment of at-risk patients differ between the countries. Nutritional screening was more common in Denmark (40%), compared to Sweden (21%) and Norway (16%). Measuring dietary intake in nutritional at-risk patients was more common in Denmark (46%), compared to Sweden (37%) and Norway (22%). However, all countries agreed that nutritional screening (92%, 88%, 88%) and measuring dietary intake (97%, 95%, 97%) were important, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, respectively. CONCLUSION: There is a large discrepancy between nutritional attitudes and practice. The standards suggested from the ESPEN are not fulfilled.

[Complaints before and after cholecystectomy]. / Plager før og etter kolecystektomi.

BACKGROUND: It may be difficult to decide whether a patient's discomfort is related to known gallbladder stones. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire regarding pre- and postoperative complaints and satisfaction with treatment was sent to 211 patients a median 51 months after they had undergone cholecystectomy at Rana district hospital during the May 1993 to March 2001 period. RESULTS: 97% of the patients returned our questionnaire. 80% had experienced sudden bursts of pain; in 91% of them the pain was relieved. 71% reported no complaints after cholecystectomy, 26% still had some discomfort after the operation. Two thirds of these had experienced discomfort for several years. 22% reported new or different symptoms. After surgery our patients reported a significant reduction in symptoms like sudden pain, constant pain, nausea/vomiting and bloating. 94% were very satisfied or satisfied with the outcome; 1% regretted having undergone the procedure. INTERPRETATION: Sudden attacks of pain are likely to be relieved after cholecystectomy. Our patients also experienced a number of different types of discomfort both before and after the cholecystectomy. Similar complaints also are reported by persons without gallstones, hence it is difficult to interpret the relief or worsening of these symptoms in relation to the cholecystectomy.