Gallstone Diseases in the Older Adult

Simon Yang, MD, Division of General Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
Calvin Law, MD, MPH, FRCS, Division of General Surgery, University of Toronto; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON.

The prevalence of gallstones has been increasing among the aging population. Common sequelae of cholelithiasis include asymptomatic gallstones, biliary colic, acute cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, cholangitis, and gallstone pancreatitis. Among individuals over age 65, gallstone diseases represent an important cause of recurrent abdominal symptoms and surgical admissions. As advanced age is correlated with increased mortality and morbidity in complicated gallstone disease, timely diagnosis and appropriate management are essential to improving disease outcomes.
Key words: older adults, gallstones, cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis.