Measuring the rate of weight gain and the influential role of diet in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a 6-month follow-up study

Weight gain after cholecystectomy is one of the major surgical problems consistent with morbidities and long-term mortalities. Here, we aimed to study the impact of palliative cholecystectomy on weight gain and nutritional status of the patients before and in 1, 4 and 6 months after surgery. We performed a prospective survey on a cohort of 48 patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy. The nutritional status of the patients was collected by nutrition nurse and analysed by NutriBase software. There were 13 (16%) females and 35 (84%) males with the mean age of 51.8 +/- 1.97. In 6 months after surgery, patients had higher values of BMI, daily energy expenditure, carbohydrate and lipid consumption and a decreased level of protein consumption. Weight gain after surgery was caused by an increase in fat consumption which resulted in the weight gain and worsening of lipid profile. Dietary consultation, shortly after surgery, would improve patient outcome after cholecystectomy.