The relationship between bile reflux and common bile duct diameter after cholecystectomy: a clinical case-control study

Objective: The present study aims to investigate the relationship between bile reflux (BR) and diameter of the common bile duct (CBD) in patients after cholecystectomy. Materials and methods: In our case series analysis, according to the endos-copy results, the patients who underwent cholecystectomy were divided into two groups as those with BR and those non-BR. Age, sex, CBD diameter measured on ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and endoscopic biopsy results of the patients were statistically analyzed. Results: In a total of 188 patients included in the study, BR was detected in 93 patients, it was not observed in 95 patients. The CBD diameter of the patients was observed to be 7 mm or less in 70.9% (n = 66) in the BR group, and 23% (n = 22) in the non-BR group. The statistical analysis revealed that while there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of CBD diameter and intestinal metaplasia, the results were similar in both groups in terms of inflammation, activity, atrophy, and Helicobacter pylori. Conclusion: We believe that CBD diameter may be a predictive factor in the detection of BR after cholecystectomy.