[Operative risk in cholelithiasis. 5 433 surgical interventions (author's transl)]

Mortality and morbidity of surgical treatment of gallstones are analysed through a series of 5 433 operations : 3 885 for chronic cholecystitis; 844 for choledocholithiasis, 564 for acute cholecystitis, 96 for odditis, 31 for internal fistula, 13 for gallstone ileus. The overall mortality rate is 1,53%, the morbidity rate 8,32 % but significant differences are found related to sex, age, stage of disease and operating procedure: for example cholecystectomy for chronic cholecystitis in patients beyond 60 years has a mortality rate of 0,2%; in choledocholithiasis, after 70 years the mortality rate is 9,8% . Analysis of deaths and complications shows that mortality and morbidity can be reduced by a better selection of cases and various preventive measures.