[Benign surgical icterus (author's transl)].

Among 3192 operations on the gall bladder and biliary ducts clinically and chemically a benign icterus was found in 318 patients (9.9%) (maximal serum bilirubin values 21 mumol/l). 140 patients (44%) had a typical biliary history over many years, 173 patients (54%) had only cholelithiasis, 98 patients (30.9%) had concrements in the gall bladder and biliary ducts and 9 patients (2.8%) had concrements in the biliary ducts only. In 141 patients (44.3%) additional complications were found. The post-operative mortality was 5% among which were 9 patients dying of the final stages of their basic disease or its complications; 7 patients died of cardiopulmonary complications. An improvement of the prognosis can only be reached by early operation of patients with gallstones.