Background. Cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis were considered to be uncommon in infants and children but have been increasingly diagnosed in recent years due to increased use of ultrasonography. It has been associated with hemolysis, prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, congenital heart diseases, parenteral nutrition and anatomic stenosis of bile ducts. The aim of this study was to evaluate incidence, risk factors, symptoms and treatment of cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis in infancy.
Methods. Retrospective study from 2007 to 2017 identiiied iniants younger than 1 year with ultrasonographic findings of cholelithiasis in Vilnius University Children’s Hospital. Inpatients and outpatients were included, whose primary or secondary diagnosis was coded K80 according ICD-10 classification.
Results. Cholelithiasis was diagnosed for 28 patients between the age of 4 days and 10 months (an average age 4.5 months). During the years incidence of cholelithiasis remain similar, about 2-3 patients per year. It was diagnosed for 17 boys (61%) and 11 girls (39%). 9 (32%) patients were without risk factors, 19 (68%) patients had one or more risk factors. At diagnosis there were 17 patients symptomatic (61%) and 11 asymptomatic (39%). For 15 (54%) patients were prescribed ursodeoxycholic acid (20-40 mg/kg/d), other 13 (46%) patients were assigned diet. During foliow up period cholecystitis repeated for 1 (3%) patient and was recommended the surgical treatment, symptoms have not reoccurred for 27 (97%): for 10 (36%) cases stones disappeared, in 11 (39%) cases they persisted and data were unavailable for 7 (25%) patients.
Conclusion. Cholelithiasis frequency does not change during the period of 2007-2017. Cholelithiasis is more frequent among boys and more often diagnosed, when patients have associated factors and symptoms. Symptoms usually do not repeat afterwards and gallstones disappeared for 36%.
