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WELCOME TO C-GALL

A randomised controlled trial comparing laparoscopic cholecystectomy with observation/conservative management for preventing recurrent symptoms and complications in adults with uncomplicated symptomatic gallstones.

COVID-19 update

We are continuing to keep in touch with the participants in the study. It may be that we are in touch with you by a different method than usual (for example we may telephone you to complete questionnaires, rather than send them by post). If you have any questions about the study, please email cgall@abdn.ac.uk.

You can also find information about COVID-19 from the NHS websites in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

There is also information about COVID-19 on the UK government website.

What is C-Gall?

C-Gall is a research study to find the most effective treatment for gallstones.

Gallstone disease is one of the most common gastrointestinal (stomach) conditions in the UK; around 1 in 10 adults will have/present with gallstones. Surgery for gallstones has increased steadily, showing a rise in the number of cases of gallstones and the increased use of surgery to remove the gallbladder as the treatment of choice.

The most common early symptom of gallstone disease is pain. Surgery is most often used to treat symptomatic gallstones. However the rates of developing surgical complications can be 1 in 10 to 1 in 15 people. In addition, removing the gallbladder is not 100% effective in treating symptoms, as one third of patients may continue to experience pain and abdominal symptoms after surgery. The C-Gall study hopes to find out whether a non-surgical approach (medical management) would be better for some patients.


Medical management, including advice on diet and use of analgesia (pain relief) may be a more effective option in people presenting with uncomplicated disease (depending on their age, clinical presentation, and symptoms).

If you would like to be involved in C-Gall, please contact the C-Gall study office and we can advise you if your local hospital is participating in the study and put you in touch with a member of the team to discuss further (01224 438089 or cgall@abdn.ac.uk).

The C-Gall study is funded by the National Institute for Health Research HTA programme. You can find out more about taking part in research here: http://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/ok-to-ask.htm

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Can I take part?

You may be eligible to take part in C-Gall if:

  • you are aged 18 or over,
  • with symptomatic uncomplicated gallstone disease,
  • are being referred to hospital.
    If the hospital you are referred to is taking part in the C-Gall, the study will be discussed further at your hospital appointment.



If you would like any more information about C-Gall, including information about taking part please contact the study office at the University of Aberdeen on 01224 438089 or email cgall@abdn.ac.uk.

If you are interested in taking part, or have any questions

Where can I take part?

Aberdeen

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Dr James Milburn

Address:

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Foresterhill
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZN
Nottingham

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Ravinder Vohra

Address:

Nottingham City Hospital
Hucknall Road
Nottingham
NG5 1PB
Taunton

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Ms Marianne Hollyman

Address:

Musgrove Park Hospital
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 5DA
Royal Free - London

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Brian Davidson

Address:

Royal Free Hospital
Pond St
London
NW3 2QG
Glasgow

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Simon Gibson

Address:

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
1345 Govan Road
Glasgow
G51 4TF
Fife

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Peter Driscoll

Address:

Victoria Hospital
Hayfield Road
Kirkcaldy
KY2 5AH
Newport

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Michael Nutt

Address:

Royal Gwent Hospital
Cardiff Road
Newport
NP20 2UB
Coventry

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Jawad Ahmad

Address:

Coventry University Hospital
Clifford Bridge Road
Coventry
CV2 2DX
North Tees

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Talvinder Gill

Address:

North Tees University Hospital
Hardwick Road
Hardwick
Stockton-on-Tees
TS19 8PE
Plymouth

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr David Stell

Address:

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Derriford Raod
Cownhill
Plymouth
PL6 8DH
Aintree

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Hassan Malik

Address:

University Hospital Aintree NHS Trust
Lower Lane
Liverpool
L9 7AL
Dundee

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Iain Tait

Address:

Ninewells Hospital and Medical School
Dundee
DD1 9SY
Liverpool

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Chris Halloran

Address:

Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Prescot Road
Liverpool
L7 8XP
Borders

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Jamie Young

Address:

Borders General Hospital
Melrose
TD6 9BS
Durham

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Zaher Toumi

Address:

University Hospital North Durham
Durham
DH1 5TF
Yeovil

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr John Spearman

Address:

Yeovil District Hospital
Higher Kingston
Yeovil
Somerset
BA21 4AT
Birmingham

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Robert Sutcliffe

Address:

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmigham
General surgery Research
North Block, 4th Floor West
ITM, Heritage Building, Birmingham
B15 2TH
Cardiff

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr David O'Reilly

Address:

Warwick

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Dr Paul Marriot

Address:

Warwick Hospital
Lakin Road
Warwick
CV34 5BW
Bedford

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Dipankar Chattopadhyay

Address:

Bedford Hospital NHS Trust
RDI Department
King's Place
Britannia Road, Bedford
MK42 9DJ
Sandwell

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Andrew Torrance

Address:

Sadwell Medical Research Unit
Sandwell Hospital
West Bromich
B71 4HJ
Heart of England

Key people:

Investigator:

  • Mr Markos Daskalakis

Address:

Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
Bordesley Green East
Birmingham
B9 5SS

Study news

Recruitment

436/430

Trial sites

Latest addition to sites:

Heart of England
Sandwell
Bedford
Warwick

Key facts about the study and documents

Key facts about the study and documents

If you are eligible and would like to take part in the C-Gall study you will be recruited at your local hospital (please see ‘Where can I take part? to check if your local hospital is participating).

To take part you will be asked to sign a consent form and asked some questions about your health. You will also be asked to complete a study questionnaire. After this you will be randomised to receive either medical management or surgical management.


We will follow your progress for 18 months and we will send you a study questionnaire through the post at 3, 9, 12 and 18 months. We will also send you a prepaid envelope. The questionnaires are returned to the study office in a prepaid envelope.

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You can find out more information about C-GALL on the following websites:

Key contacts

Click on cards to find out more

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Organisation

NHSGrampian Logo
ABND Uni Logo

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
Participant Information

University of Aberdeen/NHS Grampian is the sponsor for this study based in the United Kingdom. We will be using information from you and your medical records in order to undertake this study and will act as the data controller for this study. This means that we are responsible for looking after your information and using it properly. University of Aberdeen/NHS Grampian will keep identifiable information about you at least 10 years after the study has finished.

Your rights to access, change or move your information are limited, as we need to manage your information in specific ways in order for the research to be reliable and accurate. If you withdraw from the study, we will keep the information about you that we have already obtained. To safeguard your rights, we will use the minimum personally-identifiable information possible.

You can find out more about how we use your information https://www.abdn.ac.uk/privacy.