Open transthoracic or transhiatal esophagectomy versus minimally invasive esophagectomy in terms of morbidity, mortality and survival.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of esophageal cancer is associated with a high rate of morbidity and mortality even in specialized centers. Minimally invasive surgery has been proposed to decrease these complications. METHODS: The authors present their results regarding postoperative complications and the survival rate at 3 years, comparing the classic open procedures (transthoracic or transhiatal esophagectomy) with minimally invasive surgery. Surgical procedures were performed according to procedures published elsewhere. RESULTS: The study enrolled 166 patients who underwent surgery between 1990 and 2003. Open transthoracic surgery was performed for 60 patients. In this group of patients, postoperative mortality was observed in 11% of the cases. Major, minor, and late complications were observed in 61.6% of the patients, and the 3-year survival rate was 30% for this group. Open transhiatal surgery was performed for 59 patients. The morbidity, mortality, and 3-year rate were almost the same as for the transthoracic surgery group. For the 47 patients submitted to minimally invasive procedures (thoracoscopic and laparoscopic), the complications and mortality rates were significantly reduced (38.2% and 6.4%, respectively). For the patients submitted to minimally invasive surgery, the 3-year survival rate was 45.4%. It is important to clarify that the patients submitted to minimally invasive surgery manifested early stages of the diseases, and that this the reason why the morbimortality and survival rates were better. CONCLUSIONS: The transthoracic and transhiatal open approaches have similar early and late results. Minimally invasive surgery is an option for patients with esophageal carcinoma, with reported results similar to those for open surgery. This approach is indicated mainly for selected patients with early stages of the disease.

Long-term results of classic antireflux surgery in 152 patients with Barrett's esophagus: clinical, radiologic, endoscopic, manometric, and acid reflux test analysis before and late after operation.

BACKGROUND: The classic surgical procedure for patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) has been either Nissen fundoplication or posterior gastropexy with calibration of the cardia. METHODS: The purpose of our study was to determine late subjective and objective results of these classic surgical techniques in a large number of patients with BE. A total of 152 patients were included in this prospective protocol. RESULTS: There was 1 death (0.7%) after operation. The late follow-up of 100 months demonstrated a high percentage of failures among patients with noncomplicated BE (54%) and an even higher figure in patients with complicated BE (64%). In 15 patients low grade dysplasia appeared at 8 years of follow-up and an adenocarcinoma in 4 patients. Twenty-four-hour pH monitoring demonstrated a decrease in acid reflux into the esophagus, and Bilitec studies also demonstrated a decrease of duodenoesophageal reflux, but in all cases with a higher value than the normal limit. CONCLUSIONS: Classic antireflux surgery in patients with BE results in a high percentage of failures at very late follow-up because it cannot completely avoid acid and duodenal reflux into the esophagus.

Simultaneous bacteriologic assessment of bile from gallbladder and common bile duct in control subjects and patients with gallstones and common duct stones.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the simultaneous prevalence of bacteria in bile from the gallbladder and common bile duct and to determine the influence of the number of stones present on bacteriologic findings. METHODS: A prospective study was performed in 467 subjects divided into seven groups: 42 control subjects with normal biliary tracts, 221 patients with symptomatic gallstone disease, 12 patients with hydropic gallbladder, 52 patients with acute cholecystitis, 67 patients with common bile duct stones without cholangitis, 49 patients with common bile duct stones and acute cholangitis, and 24 patients with previous cholecystectomy and common bile duct stones. In all except controls, bile samples from the gallbladder and common bile duct were taken simultaneously for aerobic and anaerobic cultures. RESULTS: Control subjects had no bacteria in gallbladder bile. Patients with gallstones, acute cholecystitis, and hydropic gallbladder had similar rates of positive cultures in the gallbladder and common bile duct, ranging from 22% to 46%, but the rate was significantly higher in patients with common bile duct stones without cholangitis (58.2%). Patients with cholangitis or previous cholecystectomy had a high rate of positive cultures of common duct bile (93% to 100%). Age greater than 60 years had a significant influence on the rate of positive bile cultures. There was no relationship between the number of stones in the gallbladder or common bile duct and the percentage of positive cultures. In 98% of the patients, the same bacteria were isolated from gallbladder and common duct bile. CONCLUSIONS: In normal subjects, no bacteria were present in the biliary tract. Among patients with common bile duct stones, there was an increasing percentage of positive cultures according to the severity of the disease. Age had an important influence, but sex and the number of common bile duct stones had no influence on positive cultures.

Is Barrett's metaplasia the source of adenocarcinomas of the cardia?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in patients with adenocarcinomas located at the gastroesophageal junction. DESIGN: A case series of patients who underwent esophagogastrectomy for adenocarcinoma was retrospectively reviewed. Tumors were grouped by location as esophageal, cardiac, and subcardiac, and the prevalence of specialized intestinal metaplasia in the histological specimens was determined. SETTING: A university department of surgery that specializes in esophageal diseases. PATIENTS: One hundred patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, cardia, or proximal stomach. MAIN OUTCOME: Cardiac adenocarcinomas were associated with Barrett's esophagus in 42% of the patients. RESULTS: Specialized intestinal metaplasia was identified in the histological sections from the resected specimen in 42% (13/31) of cardiac adenocarcinomas and in 79% (38/48) of esophageal adenocarcinomas but in only 5% (1/21) of subcardiac adenocarcinomas. The preoperative endoscopic biopsy results concurred with the final diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus in 33 of the 38 esophageal tumors, six of the 13 cardiac tumors, and the one subcardiac tumor but failed to detect specialized intestinal metaplasia in 54% (7/13) of cardiac tumors. Cardiac tumors were associated with shorter lengths of Barrett's mucosa than esophageal tumors (2.7 +/- 1.8 cm vs 7.4 +/- 3.4 cm, P < .01). The Barrett's metaplasia was dysplastic in 36 of the 38 esophageal tumors, 10 of the 13 cardiac tumors, but not in the subcardiac tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Adenocarcinomas located at the gastroesophageal junction were associated with Barrett's metaplasia in nearly one half of the patients. The length of the Barrett segment tends to be short and may be missed during endoscopy. The presence of high-grade dysplasia within Barrett's mucosa supports a barrett's origin for half of the adenocarcinomas arising at this location.

Common bile duct pressure in patients with common bile duct stones with or without acute suppurative cholangitis.

Resting common bile duct pressure was measured in three groups of patients: group 1, 53 patients with gallstones but without common duct stones; group 2, 35 patients with common bile duct stones unaccompanied by cholangitis; and group 3, 36 patients with common duct stones and acute suppurative cholangitis. A significantly higher pressure in the common bile duct was documented in patients with cholangitis when compared with the other two groups. Twenty-four patients with cholangitis had common duct pressure values above 20 cm H2O, the maximal values of normal. Additionally, patients with cholangitis with pressure values over 30 cm H2O (nine patients) showed absence of green bile in the extrahepatic biliary tract, suggesting cessation of bile excretion into biliary duct. In all these cases, an impacted stone at the distal end of the common bile duct was documented.

Anatomic dilatation of the cardia and competence of the lower esophageal sphincter: a clinical and experimental study.

Anatomic and clinical data suggest that the gastroesophageal junction or cardia in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD) may be dilated. We hypothesized that anatomic dilatation of the cardia induces a lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction that may be corrected by narrowing the gastroesophageal junction (i.e., calibration of the cardia). We measured the perimeter of the cardia during surgery in control subjects and patients with GERD and Barrett's esophagus. We then tested our hypothesis in a mechanical model. The model was based on a pig gastroesophageal specimen with perpendicularly placed elastic bands around the cardia simulating the action of the "sling" and "clasp" fibers. "Dilatation" of the cardia was induced by displacing the sling band laterally and decreasing its tension. "Calibration" of the cardia was performed by reapproximation of the sling band toward the esophagus but maintaining the same tension as the dilated model. In the "basal," "dilated," and "calibrated" states, the perimeter of the cardia was noted and rapid mechanized pullback manometry with a water-perfused catheter was performed. The opening pressure was determined, and three-dimensional sphincter pressure images were analyzed. The average cardia perimeter was 6.3 cm in control subjects, 8.9 cm in GERD patients, and 13.8 cm in patients with Barrett's esophagus. The arrangement of the bands in the experimental model generated a manometric high-pressure zone similar to that in the human lower esophageal sphincter. Dilatation of the cardia resulted in a decrease in the resting pressure, length, and vector volume of the high -pressure zone, and reduced the opening pressure. Calibration restored the resting and opening pressure, and normalized the three-dimensional pressure image. In patients with GERD and Barrett's esophagus, the cardia is dilated. Our model supports the hypothesis that lower esophageal sphincter function is compromised by anatomic dilatation of the cardia and can be restored by approximation of the "sling" fibers toward the lesser curvature "clasp" fibers). This provides evidence for a correlation between gastroesophageal sphincter dysfunction in reflux disease and its correction by antireflux surgery.

Prospective randomized study comparing three surgical techniques for the treatment of gastric outlet obstruction secondary to duodenal ulcer.

A prospective randomized clinical trial was performed in order to evaluate the results of three surgical techniques for the treatment of gastric outlet obstruction secondary to duodenal ulcer. Ninety patients with clinical and laboratory evidence of gastric retention were enrolled. After laparotomy, patients underwent either highly selective vagotomy (HSV) + gastrojejunostomy, HSV + Jaboulay gastroduodenostomy, or selective vagotomy (SV) + antrectomy. One patient died after HSV + Jaboulay gastroduodenostomy due to postoperative acute pancreatitis. There were no differences in the postoperative course of the three groups. Patients were followed for a mean of 98 months (range: 30 to 156 months). There was a significantly better result after HSV + gastrojejunostomy than after Jaboulay anastomosis (p < 0.01), but not after SV + antrectomy. Gastric acid reduction was similar in the small group of patients studied. We propose HSV + gastrojejunostomy as the treatment of choice in patients with duodenal ulcer and gastric outlet obstruction.

Does duodenal juice reflux into the esophagus of patients with complicated GERD? Evaluation of a fiberoptic sensor for bilirubin.

BACKGROUND: It is controversial whether duodenal juice can damage esophageal mucosa in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The issue remains unresolved partly because of difficulties in detecting the presence of duodenal juice in the lower esophagus. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: This study utilized an in vitro portable spectrophotometer with a fiberoptic probe capable of detecting bile as a marker of duodenal juice. Absorbance/concentration curves were established with known bilirubin concentrations at pH 1.4 and pH 7.7. Esophageal pH and bilirubin absorbance were monitored in vivo over a 24-hour period in 20 healthy volunteers to determine the absorbance threshold for clinical use. The study population consisted of 21 patients with GERD. Four had no mucosal injury, 5 erosive esophagitis, and 12 Barrett's esophagus. RESULTS: The correlation between absorbance and bilirubin concentration was 0.98 and 0.99 for acid and alkaline environments, but bilirubin absorbance was 35% less in an acid environment. Using an absorbance threshold of 0.14, patients with GERD taken in toto had elevated esophageal exposure to bilirubin. No difference was observed in bilirubin exposure between reflux patients without mucosal injury and controls. Highest exposure occurred in patients with Barrett's esophagus. An important observation was that esophageal bilirubin exposure frequently occurred during periods when the esophageal pH was in the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: The fiberoptic probe accurately detects esophageal bilirubin as a marker of duodenal juice. Esophageal exposure to bilirubin is uncommon in normal subjects. Patients with erosive esophagitis and Barrett's metaplasia have increased esophageal exposure to duodenal juice compared to normal subjects. Reflux of duodenal juice into the esophagus can occur when the esophageal pH is within its normal range and is undetectable by pH monitoring alone.

Laparoscopy in pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancer.

Laparoscopic techniques can be used for diagnosis, staging, and therapeutic procedures, both palliative or curative. Laparoscopy needs to be used in the context of algorithms of evaluation and management that consider the natural history and biology of the diseases at stake, concepts of evidence-based decisions, cost-effectiveness, quality of life, expertise available, and the philosophy of involved institutions. Accurate staging facilitates the selection of patients for resection, for neoadjuvant therapy, and selective planning for best palliation. The therapeutic role of advanced laparoscopic or laparoscopic assisted procedures is likely to increase (biliary bypass, gastro-jejunostomy, liver resections, cryosurgery, radiofrequency ablation, etc.). The place of laparoscopy in staging and treatment, however, has to be critically and continuously reviewed in the context of new developments in diagnostic imaging techniques, endoscopic procedures, and advances in oncology.

Results of Heineke-Mikulicz type choledochoplasty in benign biliary strictures.

During a 20-year period from 1970 to 1991, a total of 30,800 patients underwent biliary tract surgery at the Department of Surgery, University of Chile Clinical Hospital. Of these, seven female adults with a mean age of 39.7 years (range 29 to 54) were considered for analysis in this study. The results of the Heineke-Mikulicz type choledochoplasty repair in patients with short localized strictures of the biliary tract were analyzed in these patients. In six cases, the repair was performed at a mean time of 20 months after cholecystectomy and accidental injury of the common bile duct; in one case it was carried out during cholecystectomy and repair of a Mirizzi type II cholecysto-hepatic fistula. This patient remained asymptomatic during a follow-up of 120 months. Of the six cases on whom choledochoplasty was performed as treatment of short strictures, five patients (83%) developed a new stricture at a mean time of 14 months after surgery; a hepatico-jejunostomy was performed in all. After this procedure, only one patient was re-operated again, and all remained asymptomatic long after surgery. We believe that this Heineke-Mikulicz type choledochoplasty, which has been recommended in short distal strictures, is not advisable as a definitive surgical repair for this kind of stricture.

Comparison of forceful dilatation and esophagomyotomy in patients with achalasia of the esophagus.

In the present paper we have reviewed the results of forceful dilatation as compared with surgical esophagomyotomy in patients with achalasia. The review of 4 retrospective and uncontrolled studies revealed that in all, surgery produced a more effective late result than dilatation, with minimal side effects and very low or no mortality. In the only prospective randomized study comparing both treatments by the same group, good late results were seen after surgery in 95% of the cases, as compared with 65% after dilatation (p less than 0.001). The resting gastroesophageal sphincter pressure was predictive of the quality of the late results. Reflux occurred in 8% of the dilated and in 19% of the operated group as measured by standard acid reflux test. The old, classical concept that dilatation is the first choice and preferable method of treatment for patients with achalasia should be reviewed, and the idea that surgery should be reserved only for patients in whom dilatation has failed should be abandoned. We propose that surgical treatment should be the initial choice in the majority of patients with achalasia of the esophagus.

Bacteriological study of choledochal bile in patients with common bile duct stones, with or without acute suppurative cholangitis.

Acute suppurative cholangitis is a serious complication in extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction. Bacteriological studies have shown that in these patients the bile cultures usually present several kinds of bacteria, especially Gram-negative aerobic bacteria such as E. coli and Klebsiella sp. The mortality rate in our patients with common bile duct stones and acute suppurative cholangitis is enhanced 5- to 10-fold. The aim of the present study was to analyse the bacterial properties of choledochal bile in a large number of patients with common bile duct stones, with or without acute suppurative cholangitis, and to determine the sensitivity of the isolated bacteria to several antibiotics used in clinical practice. The greatest sensitivity of the bacteria isolated from the common bile duct was seen for aminoglycosides (gentamicin and amikacin) and for cephalosporins, especially of the third generation (cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone and cefoperazone). Ampicillin showed a low sensitivity rate. The appropriate selection of the antibiotics used in acute suppurative cholangitis depends not only on the concentration of the antibiotic in the bile; a high plasma concentration is even more important to control the septic manifestations. A high excretion to the bile can affect the intestinal flora, leading to diarrhea (e. g. with cefoperazone). Ampicillin has been giving contradictory results in respect of bile and plasma concentrations. Gentamicin attains 30-40% of the plasma concentration in the bile, but persists for as long as 8 hours with excellent sensitivity and clinical efficacy. Amikacin reaches 44% of the plasma concentration with a very high sensitivity (96%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Late results of primary repair and follow-up in 53 patients with injuries to the common bile duct occurring during cholecystectomy (distal perforation, tears, ligation or suture).

The late results of primary repair of accidental injuries to the common bile duct occurring during cholecystectomy were evaluated in 53 cases. These lesions occurred in 20 patients who had distal perforation produced by the Bakes dilator, in 17 cases with accidental tearing of the anterior or posterior wall of the common bile duct, and in 16 cases in whom the common bile duct was accidentally ligated or sutured. In cases of perforation, choledochostomy plus suturing of the perforation had a high operative mortality and 4 out of 6 cases developed benign stricture soon after surgery. When sphincteroplasty or choledochoduodenostomy was added, a stricture developed in only 1 out of 7 cases. In cases with accidental tears, suturing of the lesion plus choledochostomy produced very good late results. In patients with accidental ligation or suturing of the common bile duct, two different postoperative complications were seen: seven cases had biliary fistula and all developed benign stricture 2 years after surgery. In nine cases jaundice appeared 6 months after surgery, and a benign stricture developed in 7 of them. The most important "treatment" of these lesions is to prevent them from occurring during cholecystectomy by employing a meticulous surgical technique.

Prevalence of common bile duct stones according to the increasing number of risk factors present. A prospective study employing routinely intraoperative cholangiography in 477 cases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine if the use of Intraoperative choliangiography (IOC) should be routinely performed and, if not, which criteria should be used to select patients requiring IOC during open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODOLOGY: 495 Patients with 1 or more gallstones were included in a two-year study. Twelve clinical, laboratory, ultrasonographic and intraoperative factors were chosen and evaluated in all cases. Prior to cholecystectomy, IOC was performed after having identified the common bile duct (CBD) and cystic duct. The majority of the patients were operated on by the same surgeon to avoid differences in criteria and techniques. Statistical evaluation made use of the exact Fisher test and chi square test and, a p-value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: IOC could be performed in 479 out of the 495 cases. IOC resulted in a normal CBD in 76.0%, had a false positive in 2.7%, a false negative in 0.48%, and a presence of 1 or more stones in the CBD in 20.9%. The study revealed that when none of the 12 risk factors were present, there were no cases with CBD stones. As the number of risk factors increased, so did the number of cases presenting with CBD stones. CONCLUSION: Not all 12 risk factors show the same index of predictability; only 5 in particular (jaundice, ultrasound diameter CBD 7 mm, bilirubin over 26 umol/it, cystic duct > 4 mm and CBI, diameter over 9 mm) showed a high rate of predictability. However, when careful measurement and evaluation of risk factors for CBD stones are undertaken, it is possible to avoid the routine use of IOC.

Counts of bacteria and pyocites of choledochal bile in controls and in patients with gallstones or common bile duct stones with or without acute cholangitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The number of colonies of bacteria and the number of pyocites present per ml of choledochal bile was studied. PATIENTS AND METHODS: There were 42 controls, 100 patients with symptomatic gallstones, 42 patients with common duct stones without cholangitis and 24 patients with common duct stones and acute cholangitis. RESULTS: Control subjects had no bacteria present at gallbladder bile. Only 3% of patients with gallstones had more than 10(5) colonies per ml which increased to 36% in patients with common duct stones without cholangitis and to 84% among patients with acute cholangitis (p < 0.001). There were more polybacterial flora among patients with acute cholangitis and anaerobic bacteria were not seen in patients with gallstones. Patients with acute cholangitis had significantly more pyocites present at choledochal bile. CONCLUSION: There is a direct correlation between the number of colonies present per ml of choledochal bile and the severity of biliary tract disease. Patients with acute cholangitis had significantly more pyocites present at choledochal bile compared to gallstones or patients with CBD stones without cholangitis.

Indications and results of hepaticojejunostomy in benign strictures of the biliary tract.

The postoperative and late results of 99 patients with benign strictures of the biliary tract are presented. Patients were classified according to Bismuth into 24 cases with lesion type I, 36 cases with type II, 35 cases with type III and 4 patients with type IV. All were submitted to hepaticojejunostomy with a long Roux-en-Y loop. The etiology of the strictures varied according to the type of stricture. In patients of type I, inflammatory and iatrogenic causes were observed. Among type II and III patients, previous cholecytocholedochal fistulas were the main cause, together with accidental section or ligature of the common bile duct. Operative mortality was absent in strictures of types I and II, while it was around 25% in cases of types III and IV. At late control, the best results were seen among patients with strictures of types I and II. We believe that the main factor determining the early and late outcome of these cases with benign strictures is the location of the stricture and the quality of the proximal duct.

Prospective study of esophageal motor abnormalities in patients with gastroesophageal disease reflux according to the severity of endoscopic esophagitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This prospective study evaluates the peristaltic activity of the thoracic esophagus in a group of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease grouping them according to the endoscopic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The peristaltic activity and the manometric features of the lower esophageal sphincter were prospectively evaluated in 109 controls and 321 patients with reflux esophagitis, divided according to the degree of endoscopic esophagitis employing Savary's classification. RESULTS: Gastro esophageal sphincter pressure was progressively lower according to the severity of the tissue damage. Motor peristaltic activity of the thoracic esophagus measured by several different parameters was significantly altered in Grade IV esophagitis compared to other groups (p < 0.01). The manometric changes were more pronounced at the distal esophagus compared to the proximal esophagus. The percentage of patients with severe motor disturbances, defined as lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure less than 6 mm, less than 50% of peristaltic waves after swallowing and amplitude of contractile waves of less than 50 mmHg were significantly greater in patients with severe esophageal injury (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Gastroesophageal esophageal reflux may exhibit a wide spectrum of motor disturbances in the distal part of the esophagus even before the presence of the tissue damage, but it increases in proportion to the severity of endoscopic esophagitis.

Classification and treatment of anastomotic leakage after extended total gastrectomy in gastric carcinoma.

A new classification of anastomotic fistulas of esophagojejunostomy after total extended gastrectomy for advanced gastric carcinoma is presented. In a group of 230 consecutive patients submitted to total gastrectomy within a 10-year period, there were 20 patients with Type I fistula (8.8%) and 18 cases with Type II (7.8%). Type I or subclinical fistula corresponded to a local leakage around the anastomosis, with no septic complications, which heals with prolongation of enteral feeding up to 20 days after surgery. The mortality rate was 5% in this group. Type II or clinical leakage corresponded to patients with early septic manifestations after surgery, in whom the methylene blue test was positive, that is, immediate appearance of the stain in any drain was observed after oral ingestion, confirmed by radiological studies. The mortality rate in this group was 78%. Resuturing of the fistula was a complete failure. Cervical lateral esophagostomy produced complete healing in two cases. Parenteral and enteral feeding, antibiotics and successful surgical drainage are measured that can provide good results in these cases.

Results of surgical treatment in patients with "western" intrahepatic lithiasis.

The results of the surgical treatment in 251 patients with intrahepatic stones are discussed. The mean age of the group was 48 years, with a predominance of females. Gallstones were observed in 72% of the cases, because 28% had had previous cholecystectomy. Associated common bile duct stones were present in 222 (88%) cases, while primary intrahepatic stones were seen in 29 patients. The intrahepatic stones were usually bilateral. Three main operations were employed. Choledochostomy with or without cholecystectomy was performed in 166 (66%) cases with 6 deaths (3.6%). Bilioenteric anastomosis such as sphincteroplasty or choledochoduodenostomy were used in the rest with similar results. However, residual stones were documented in 32% after choledochostomy, while only 4% were seen after choledochoduodenostomy. In our groups, intrahepatic stones originated from migrated stones from the gallbladder, and surgical treatment should be orientated towards complete extraction of the stones and prevention of their further appearance.

Factors affecting mortality in patients over 70 years of age submitted to surgery for gallbladder or common bile duct stones.

Chile is the country with the highest incidence of gallstone disease in the world. Nearly 44% of the women and 25% of the men over 20 years of age have gallstones. Biliary tract surgery accounts for about 35% of all the operations performed in Chilean general hospitals. The present paper aims at assessing the risk factors associated with a higher mortality in patients over 70 years of age subjected to elective or emergency surgery for gallstones or common bile duct stones. No specific factors of mortality were found in the group of elderly patients subjected to elective cholecystectomy. There was also no correlation between types of cholecystitis and postoperative mortality. However, acute suppurative cholangitis made the postoperative mortality rate increase almost 20-fold in patients with common bile duct stones. The mortality also shows a steep increase (up to 12%) if cholecystectomy is performed in acute cholecystitis. Cholecystostomy seems to be associated with a low mortality risk and hence should be appropriate in exceptionally high-risk patients, but is not considered useful by the authors in necrotic or gangrenous cholecystitis, or in cases with common bile duct stones and cholangitis. Postoperative mortality in patients submitted to cholecystectomy alone seems to depend exclusively on the concomitant presence of medical complications, mainly of a respiratory and cardiovascular nature. Septic complications are important causes of postoperative mortality in emergency cholecystectomy. Patients at high surgical risk are those suspected of cholangitis, those over 80 years of age, and those suffering from Charcot's triad, anemia, uremia, leukocytosis, hyperbilirubinemia or hypoprothrombinemia; in these, an endoscopic procedure could be chosen.