Fatal complications in surgery for biliary calculi.

A retrospective review of the deaths in 2877 consecutive operations for biliary calculus disorders was directed at defining the high-risk factors in operations for stone disease. A correctable factor in biliary operative mortality relates to errors in differential diagnosis and iatrogenic technical errors that result in hemorrhage, anastomotic leaks, duodenal injuries, and the tardy recognition and treatment of postoperative intraabdominal sepsis. A less manageable problem is the patient over 70 with advanced heart disease and/or diabetes, who presents with acute biliary sepsis. The combination of circumstances puts the individual at great risk, albeit there is no present alternative to surgery.