Correlations Between Relative and Absolute Prepandial Gallbladder Lengths with Motility Indices: A Pilot Based Cohort Study

Abstract

Aim: To establish a correlation between absolute and relative preprandial gallbladder lengths with gallbladder motility indices.
Methods: Sixty-one volunteers (thirty-seven males and twenty-four females) underwent serial ultrasound scanning. The lengths width and anterposterior measurements of the gallbladder were taken with a 3.5MHz sector transducer in preprandial and 20th minute postprandial states. Gallbladder volumes were calculated by ellipsoid approximation. The 20th minute contraction index (Cl) and gallbladder emptying rate (GBER) were computed. Age and height of the patients were equally recorded. Parametric statistical analysis was used with P<0.05 to indicate statistical significance.
Results: GBER showed a positive and significant correlation (Pearson\'s) with absolute gallbladder length: r=0.493; p<0.05 and r=0.703; p<0.05 in males and females respectively. Positive and significant correlations were also noted between GBER and relative gallbladder lengths: r=0.472; P<0.05 and r=0.659; P<0.05 in males and females respectively. CL insignificantly correlates with absolute gallbladder length: r=-0.039; P>0.05 and r=0.208; P>0.05 in males and females respectively; and with relative gallbaldder, length: r=0.032; P>0.05 and r=0.234; P>0.05 in males and females respectively.
Conclusion: Significant positive correlations exist between GBER and gallbladder relative and absolute lengths. The correlations between Cl and gallbladder relative and absolute lengths were noted to be insignificant. The regression equations could be used for prediction of gallbladder emptying rates in healthy and in disease states.


Keywords: Gallbladder motility; Gallbladder contraction index, Gallbladder emptying rates, Ultrasound.

Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 6 (2) 2007: pp. 73-77