The present study was conducted prospectively in the department of General Surgery and Nuclear Medicine, SKIMS from April 1999 to March 2000. 30 patients with symptoms attributable to ultrasound-documented gallstones were included in the study.
5 mci Tc-99m Mebrofenin was used for scanning the hepatobiliary system on a Siemens Icon-Gamma Camera with predefined computer software. The stomach was localized using Tc-99m sulphur colloid. In the present study 16 patients did not reveal any significant reflux pre and postoperatively. Seven (23.3 per cent) patients who had a significant duodenogastric reflux preoperatively persisted with significant postoperative reflux as well, however, the quantitative difference in reflux was insignificant (p > 0.05).
Seven (23.3 per cent) patients who had an insignificant preoperative reflux developed a significant postoperative reflux (p < 0.05). These patients also had post-cholecystectomy symptoms attributable to alkaline gastritis.
Tc-99m Mebrofenin hepatobiliary scanning with gastric localization is a useful, non-invasive, reproducible and cost-effective method to evaluate duodenogastric reflux both pre and postoperatively. Most of the drawbacks encountered with other methods, especially those needing gastric intubation, are overcome.
