Aging and the alimentary tract Biliary tract diseases in the elderly: management and outcomes

Introduction Diseases aVecting the gall bladder and bile ducts occur commonly in the elderly. By the age of 70, cholelithiasis, the most frequently occurring disorder aVecting these organ systems, and its sequela, choledocholithiasis, are found in 33% of the population of the United States. The challenges facing the clinician responsible for treating elderly patients with biliary tract diseases are: (1) developing an astute clinical acumen while assimilating the ubiquitous nature of these disorders in the elderly, especially when compared with the presenting complaints of younger individuals, and (2) acknowledging the increasing number of treatment options now available. In this review, we focus on gallstone diseases, including cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, with and without cholangitis, and malignant biliary strictures, far and away the most common disorders of the biliary tree aVecting the aged population.