Based on the propensity score matching (PSM) method, this study aims to explore the efficacy differences between emergency and elective surgeries for patients with gallbladder stones and common bile duct stones in high-altitude areas, as well as the impact of the high-altitude environment on prognosis.

The clinical data of 386 patients with gallbladder stones and common bile duct stones from January 2015 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the emergency group (n=152) and the elective group (n=234) according to the timing of surgery. PSM was used to balance age, ASA classification, comorbidities, and preoperative laboratory indicators as the main confounding factors, and finally, 138 cases were successfully matched in each group. t tests or χ² tests were used to compare and analyze short-term complications, liver function recovery, etc. between the two groups.

The total incidence of postoperative complications, 5-year cumulative stone recurrence rate, reoperation rate, and hospitalization costs in the elective group were significantly lower than those in the emergency group (P<0.05); the postoperative recovery rate of liver function in the elective group was significantly faster than that in the emergency group, and the final SF-36 quality of life score at follow-up was higher (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the 30-day postoperative mortality and 5-year cumulative survival rate between the two groups (P>0.05).

For patients with stable conditions of gallbladder stones and common bile duct stones in high-altitude areas, elective surgery is significantly superior to emergency surgery in reducing short-term complications, reducing long-term stone recurrence, and improving quality of life.