A recent international study involving 789 patients indicates that biliary sludge and microlithiasis, while causes of acute pancreatitis, appear to lead to fewer long-term complications compared to gallstones. Conducted across 18 centers in Spain and Mexico from January 2018 to April 2020, the analysis reveals that complications such as recurrent pancreatitis and cholecystitis were significantly more prevalent in patients with gallstone-induced pancreatitis. The findings suggest a re-evaluation of whether cholecystectomy is necessary for patients with sludge and microlithiasis. Simon Sirtl from LMU University Hospital Munich co-authored the study.

Source: Digestive and Liver Disease