Sequelae Attributed to Delayed Surgical Treatment of Gallstones

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Abstract
Specific data obtained on 70 patients (women who had 1 or more pregnancies) operated upon for acute cholecystitis with cholelithiasis and observed for 1 to 26 years is reported. Thirty-five of these patients were under the age of 30 years and observed for an averaged of 15 years. The results were excellent and it would appear that the natural course of their calculous biliary tract disease was interrupted. The other 35 patients were 60 years of age and older and were followed an average of 7.8 years. The morbidity of complications and mortality rate was greater than in the younger group. For those on whom definitive operations were accomplished, the complications and sequelae commonly associated with calculous biliary tract disease appear to have been prevented and to this extent its course interrupted. Calculous biliary tract disease is best treated treated when early diagnosis is followed by undelayed and carefully planned surgery.