Long-term follow-up of patients with iron deficiency anaemia after a negative gastrointestinal evaluation.

Objectives: Our aim was to determine whether patients who have had a negative gastrointestinal evaluation (i.e. oesophagogastroduodenoscopy and a colonic examination) for iron deficiency anaemia are subsequently found to have recurrent anaemia or significant pathology.

For patients with predicted low risk for choledocholithiasis undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, selective intraoperative cholangiography and postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is an effective strategy to limit unnecessary procedures.

Background: There is debate about whether intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) should be performed routinely or selectively during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis. The timing of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in these patients also is an issue. We reviewed the experience in our center, where a management algorithm limiting ERCP in relation to LC was adopted.