目的:探讨老年急性胆囊炎外科治疗时机和方式。方法:回顾性分析2000年1月至2007年8月中国医科大学附属第一医院458例老年急性胆囊炎病人的临床资料。结果:非手术治疗病死率3.9％，平均住院16.9d；手术治疗病死率1.0％，平均住院11.3d。结论:老年急性胆囊炎病人的病情进展快，治疗难度大，风险高，要高度重视外科治疗的时机及方法。早期手术治疗明显降低病死率及缩短住院时间，是安全可行的。

Objective:To explore the surgical treatment and timing of the elderly patients with acute cholecystitis. Methods:The clinical data of 458 aged cases with acute cholecystitis from January 2000 to August 2007 in the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University were analized retrospectively. Results:The nonsurgical operation treatment cases’ mortality is 3.9%,average hospitalization time is 16.9d,but the correspond number of surgical operation treatment cases is 1.0% and 11.3d. Conclusion:Acute cholecystitis of the elderly patients progress rapidly treatment is difficult,risk is high,only if more attention be paid to command time and technical skill of surgical treatment,early surgical treatment can reduce mortality and reduce hospitalization time significantly.It is safe and feasible.