New model predicts long-term pain reduction post-cholecystectomy

A newly developed model for predicting long-term pain relief after laparoscopic cholecystectomy shows promising results. Following a five-year follow-up of 1,240 patients, 70.2% reported clinically relevant pain reduction. Key predictive factors included male sex, baseline pain severity, pain radiating to the back, and specific gastrointestinal symptoms. The model demonstrated good discrimination and calibration for identifying patients likely to benefit from surgery. It offers a tool to enhance patient selection and support shared decision-making.