[Aortic surgery in the presence of cholelithiasis. Should simultaneous cholecystectomy be performed?].

From 1984 to 1987, a cholecystectomy for biliary lithiasis was carried out at the same time as aortic vascular surgery in 21 patients. Seventy six percent of patients presented an abdominal aortic aneurysm and 24% occlusive atherosclerosis. Thirty eight percent had previously presented symptoms related to biliary lithiasis. Biliary surgery was conducted after closure of the retroperitoneum. The gall bladder region was drained separately. The technique did not increase operative morbidity or mortality. Combined cholecystectomy and vascular surgery depends on two arguments. Firstly, patients with stones present a higher risk of post-operative cholecystitis. Secondly, a significant percentage of non-cholecystectomized patients will present with biliary symptomatology in the months following vascular surgery.