[Cholecystectomy in cirrhotic patients].

The Authors describe 19 patients affected by hepatic cirrhosis, treated because of cholecystic lithiasis during the period 1978-82 on a total number of 473 cholecystectomies performed. The hepatic damage was defined by hepatic function tests and biopsy. A 25% postoperative complications was observed in cirrhotic patients and only an 8% in the other 454 cholecystectomies. Mortality for the first group was 21% and 0,45% in the second group of patients. The data observed in the cirrhotic group seem related to frequent necessity of blood or plasma transfusion and jaundice in damaged livers. The high mortality and morbidity in cirrhotic patients suggest a surgical indication only for already complicated biliary lithiasis.