Changing Trends in Surgery for Benign Gallbladder Disease

Hospital charts and notes of 2181 consecutive cholecystectomies performed between 1969 and 1984 were computer analyzed. They were divided into three categories of patients operated on 5, 10, and 15 yr ago. The trends of change throughout this period were as follows: 1) The population operated on in the last 5 yr is older, the proportion of males, especially over 70-80 yr old, and diabetics, is growing constantly. 2) The frequency of acalculous cholecystitis and gangrenous changes increase; the same is true for common bile duct pathology and positive bile cultures. 3) There is a marked decrease in hospitalization time, postoperatively, without significant increase in rate of wound infection and thromboembolic phenomena, or mortality. It seems that there is no change in the frequency of gallstone-related pancreatitis and perforations of gallbladder. The same is disappointingly true for positive choledochal exploration index. We think that the subcostal approach, with rational prophylactic and therapeutic antibiotic regimen, contribute to the shortening of hospitalization time and the fixed rates of wound infection and herniae in scar. Prophylactic heparin given subcutaneously seems to avoid possible thromboembolic phenomena.