title: [Can mortality in gallstone disease be reduced? An analysis of 1013 patients].
abstract: A 10-year retrospective review of 1,013 patients with gallstone disease is analysed. The median age of the patients was 66 (18-100) years. 499 patients (49%) were admitted as emergencies. There was a significant relationship between the patient's age, complicated disease and lethality. The mortality was 1%. No patients below the age of 70 died. There was also a significant relationship between duration of the disease and mortality. Emergency operations and delayed operations for acute disease were encumbered with the highest lethality (7%), while early planned operation for acute disease and elective operations showed a lethality of 0.5 and 0.2% respectively. We advocate a more liberal attitude towards elective operations and early operative intervention in elderly patients who do not respond to medical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Kirurgisk avdeling Innherred sykehus, Levanger.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bjerkeset
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Drogset
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Svinsås
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000401:mortality*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies