[Early operation in biliary surgery? (author's transl)]

In the last 15 years from 1961 to 1975 the number of operations caused by cholelithiasis increased three- and fourfold. This phenomenon is more due to the increase of the morbidity than to the extending of indication for operation. Reduction of letality from 2,4% to 0,7% and limitation of the acute complications can be considered as important results during this time. The pathological findings reveal a small improvement only. A correlation between the duration of the disease and the increase of serious pathological findings at the time of operation could not be found. During this period neither a shortening of the history of illness nor a reduction of the patients age at operation could be observed.