Biliary disease in the elderly patient

Biliary disease in the elderly patient presents unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to the generalist as well as the specialist. Diseases of this organ system are the leading indication for acute abdominal surgery in this age group. Since the number of persons over the age of 80 years has been predicted to increase at a rate five to six times that of the general population, an understanding of the unique characteristics of biliary disease in the elderly population is of increasing importance to clinicians.