Increased incidence of biliary sludge and normal gall bladder contractility in patients with high spinal cord injury

Abstract

Background - Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) have an increased prevalence of gallstones. Aims - To study prospectively the incidence of gallstones and gall bladder contractility in patients with SCI. Patients and methods - Thirty six consecutive patients with SCI were studied: 18 patients with SCI above thoracic 10 neuronal segment (>T10) and 18 patients with SGI below T10 ( T10 developed biliary sludge compared with patients with SCI <0.05). No patient developed gallstones. The gall bladder fasting volume was significantly decreased in patients with SCI >T10 (20.56 ml; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 19.74 to 21.38) compared with that in patients with SCI <0.05), disease controls (27.92 ml, 95% CI 26.69 to 29.15; p<0.05), and healthy controls (28.35 ml, 95% CI 27.25 to 29.45; p<0.05). Gall bladder contractility was normal in patients with SCI as shown by normal gall bladder residual volume and emptying time. Conclusions - Patients with SCI above T10 have an increased incidence of biliary sludge and a decreased gall bladder fasting volume. Gall bladder contractility is, however, normal.