ABSTRACT
Background: Biliary lithiasis is one of the most common diseases worldwide. Cholecystectomy is its main treatment. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered as a first choice treatment in most cases.
Material and methods: One hundred and twelve patients were recruited for the present study, after visiting the emergency department of the University General Hospital of Larissa, where a diagnosis of biliary lithiasis was established. A questionnaire with both open and closed –type questions was used.
Results: Women represented 54,5% of our sample. Positive ultrasonography findings were present in the majority of patients, while leucocytosis was found in 52.7%. Almost all of the patients were admitted to the surgical department and most of them underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The vast majority of those patients, who had a similar attack in the past, had already undergone ultrasonography investigation, and a biochemistry test had been performed in half of them, in primary care settings.
Conclusions: The incidence of cholelithiasis and its dangerous complications warrant a thorough investigation of these patients.
Key words: Biliary lithiasis, Laparoscopy, Hospitalization, Emergency Department,
