Pediatric biliary calculus disease: clinical spectrum, predisposing factors, and management outcome revisited

Abstract

Abstract Background Biliary calculus disease (BCD) is one of the most prevalent diseases and poses a significant burden to the health care system in adults. The prevalence of BCD in children and adolescents is about 0.1% and 0.6%, respectively. Although many factors have been attributed to BCD in children, exact etiopathogenesis is not clear. BCD has been extensively studied in adults, but not much literature is available in children. The current review was undertaken to study BCD in children focusing on the objectives like predisposing factors, various modes of presentation, and management outcome of BCD in children in the northern part of India. Results Out of 42 children, two children had a history of ceftriaxone therapy. Two underwent ileal resection. The mean reticulocyte count was 1.79%. None had G6PD deficiency or abnormal osmotic fragility test. Clinical presentation was right upper quadrant pain (n = 42, 100%), calculous cholecystitis (n = 8, 19.0%), and jaundice (n = 3, 7.14%). The majority (n = 26, 61.92%) were overweight. Only 16.6% (n = 7) children had normal body mass index (BMI), and 9.3% (n = 4) were obese. The mean BMI was 26.3 kg/m2. 85.5% of children frequently consume junk foods. The majority of calculi were GB calculi accounting for 92.8% (n = 39) whereas 7.1% (n = 3) children had CBD calculi. Thirty-five were managed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy, three were managed by non-operative management, and one was managed by open cholecystectomy; among the three cases of CBD calculi, two were managed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), stenting, and CBD exploration and one was managed by ERCP sphincterotomy. Conclusion Diet and overweight both appear to be important risk factors for pediatric BCD. Drug-induced calculi can be safely observed.