[Surgical infections of the gallbladder and the biliary tree].

Acute cholecystitis and acute cholangitis are the most frequent surgical infections of the biliary tree. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice in acute cholecystitis. Laparoscopic operation results in a shorter length of stay and less morbidity. Conversion rate is low in early laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Endoscopic or transhepatic decompression of the bile ducts is the treatment of choice in severe acute cholangitis. While the removal of stones is the causal therapy in choledocholithiasis, further diagnosis and consecutive therapy has to follow after decompression of bile duct stenosis.