[Cholelithiasis in men. Observations on a case series of surgically treated 3,047 patients]

Age and clinical presentation as acute cholecystitis have widely been found to be predictors of outcome after cholecystectomy. Recently, male gender has been cited in several studies as a possible prognostic factor. A single Institution cholecystectomy registry (3.047 cases between 1959-1997) comprising 966 (31.7%) men and 2.81 (68.3%) women was retrospectively analysed. Men experienced significantly higher rate of major complications (5.3% vs 3.2%; p < 0.01) and mortality (1.55% vs 0.62%; p < 0.03). By logistic regression analysis, it was found that male gender, acute cholecystitis, respiratory and cardiovascular system disease were significantly related to postoperative morbidity. Age older than 65 years, male gender, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases were factors negatively affecting operative mortality.