[Surgical treatment of cholelithiasis and its complications. Comparison of 2 treatment periods].

We have realized a retrospective analysis of all cholecystectomies performed during two five-year periods (period I: 1970 to 1974, period II: 1984 to 1988) for stone disease. We were especially interested in the development concerning the type of intervention, the diagnostic procedures, the morbidity and mortality. Our analysis showed in the second period the substitution of the preoperative diagnostic procedure away from the cholangiography up to the ultrasound, a significant decrease of interventions, a marked decrease of surgically performed papillotomies and a reduction of mortality.