Understanding the reasons for the refusal of cholecystectomy in patients with cholelithiasis: how to help them in their decision? / Entendendo as razões para a recusa da colecistectomia em indivíduos com colelitíase: como ajudá-los em sua decisão?

BACKGROUND: Cholelithiasis is prevalent surgical disease, with approximately 60,000 admissions per year in the Unified Health System in Brazil. Is often asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic and major complications arise from the migration of calculi to low biliary tract. Despite these complications are severe and life threatening, some patients refuse surgical treatment. AIM: To understand why individuals with cholelithiasis refuse cholecystectomy before complications inherent to the presence of gallstones in the bile duct and pancreatitis occur. METHODS: To investigate the universe of the justifications for refusing to submit to surgery it was performed individual interviews according to a predetermined script. In these interviews, was evaluate the knowledge of individuals about cholelithiasis and its complications and the reasons for the refusal of surgical treatment. Were interviewed 20 individuals with cholelithiasis who refused or postponed surgical treatment without a plausible reason. To these interviews, was applied the technique of thematic analysis (Minayo, 2006). RESULTS: The majority of respondents had good knowledge of their disease and its possible complications, were well oriented and had surgical indications by their physicians. The refusal for surgery was justified primarily on negative experiences of themselves or family members with surgery, including anesthesia; fear of pain or losing their autonomy during surgery and postoperative period, preferring to take the risk and wait for complications to then solve them compulsorily. CONCLUSION: The reasons for the refusal to surgical resolution of cholelithiasis were diverse, but closely related to personal (or related persons) negative surgical experiences or complex psychological problems that must be adequately addressed by the surgeon and other qualified professionals. .

RACIONAL: A colelitíase é doença de resolução cirúrgica com cerca de 60.000 internações por ano no Sistema Único de Saúde. Muitas vezes é assintomática ou oligossintomática e as principais complicações advêm da migração dos cálculos para as vias biliares baixas. Apesar das complicações serem graves, com risco de morte, alguns pacientes recusam o tratamento cirúrgico. OBJETIVO: Entender as razões pelas quais alguns indivíduos com colelitíase recusam a colecistectomia antes que ocorram complicações próprias da doença. MÉTODOS: Foram realizadas entrevistas individuais segundo um roteiro de perguntas pré-determinadas. Nestas entrevistas procurou-se avaliar o conhecimento dos indivíduos sobre a doença e suas complicações e as razões para a recusa do tratamento cirúrgico. Foram incluídos 20 indivíduos portadores de colelitíase que se recusavam ou adiavam o tratamento cirúrgico sem justificativa plausível. Às entrevistas aplicou-se a técnica da análise temática (Minayo, 2006). RESULTADOS: A maioria dos entrevistados tem bom conhecimento de sua doença, das possíveis complicações, foram bem orientados e tiveram a indicação cirúrgica pelos seus médicos assistentes. A recusa para a operação foi justificada por experiências negativas próprias ou de familiares com ato cirúrgico, incluindo a anestesia e medo de sentir dor ou perder a autonomia durante o ato cirúrgico e período pós-operatório, preferindo correr o risco e esperar pelas complicações para depois resolvê-las. CONCLUSÃO: As razões para a recusa à resolução cirúrgica da colelitíase são diversas, mas estão ...

Understanding the reasons for the refusal of cholecystectomy in patients with cholelithiasis: how to help them in their decision?

BACKGROUND: Cholelithiasis is prevalent surgical disease, with approximately 60,000 admissions per year in the Unified Health System in Brazil. Is often asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic and major complications arise from the migration of calculi to low biliary tract. Despite these complications are severe and life threatening, some patients refuse surgical treatment. AIM: To understand why individuals with cholelithiasis refuse cholecystectomy before complications inherent to the presence of gallstones in the bile duct and pancreatitis occur. METHODS: To investigate the universe of the justifications for refusing to submit to surgery it was performed individual interviews according to a predetermined script. In these interviews, was evaluate the knowledge of individuals about cholelithiasis and its complications and the reasons for the refusal of surgical treatment. Were interviewed 20 individuals with cholelithiasis who refused or postponed surgical treatment without a plausible reason. To these interviews, was applied the technique of thematic analysis (Minayo, 2006). RESULTS: The majority of respondents had good knowledge of their disease and its possible complications, were well oriented and had surgical indications by their physicians. The refusal for surgery was justified primarily on negative experiences of themselves or family members with surgery, including anesthesia; fear of pain or losing their autonomy during surgery and postoperative period, preferring to take the risk and wait for complications to then solve them compulsorily. CONCLUSION: The reasons for the refusal to surgical resolution of cholelithiasis were diverse, but closely related to personal (or related persons) negative surgical experiences or complex psychological problems that must be adequately addressed by the surgeon and other qualified professionals.