A STUDY OF OPERATION FOR CHOLELITHIASIS ACCOMPANIED WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS

19 patients (14 men, 5 women) who had undergone surgery in our department for gallstones accompanied with liver cirrhosis (LC) during the 9 years between 1980 and 1988 were reviewed, and the following results were obtained. 1) Stones localized in the gallbladder were most frequent. Pigmented stones, particularly black stones, were the predominant type. 2) Among 11 patients in whom the surgery was aimed only at gallstones, the mean operation time was 159 min, and the mean bleeding volume was 597ml. These values were significantly higher than those in patients with gallstones not accompanied with LC. 3) The postoperative course was favorable in Child A cases, whereas postoperative jaundice occurred in 3 of 4 Child B cases, and one Child C case resulted in death from postoperative liver failure. Palliative surgery after improvement in the general condition and liver function is desirable in the treatment of patients with decreased hepatic reserve.