Operative therapy for cholecystitis and cholelithiasis: trends over three decades

Gallstones constitute a major health problem. In the United States there are approximately 800,000 new cases of cholelithiasis each year. Several developments within the last 20 years are likely to have altered the profile of patients requiring cholecystectomy. All patients undergoing cholecystectomy at three hospitals during 1 year of the last 3 decades were reviewed. The results demonstrate a relative increase in the proportion of elderly patients undergoing cholecystectomy. The incidence of gallstones in blacks appears to be rising. Cholangiography significantly decreased the number of negative common duct explorations throughout this 20-year period. The percentage of patients with choledocholithiasis was stable from 1964 to 1984.