Efficacy and safety of elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in elderly: a case-controlled comparison with the open approach.
BACKGROUND
Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery is the method of choice for the surgical treatment of gallbladder disease. However, surgery of the biliary tract in the elderly is often associated with high morbidity and mortality.


METHODS
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the elderly with symptomatic, uncomplicated gallbladder disease, we retrospectively compared the records of 24 consecutive patients over 70 years of age with symptomatic uncomplicated gallbladder disease, who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with a similar cohort of patients who underwent elective open cholecystectomy for the same indications.


RESULTS
In the laparoscopic group we found a significantly low incidence of postoperative complications, low analgesics and antibiotics administration, rapid recovery, short length of stay and considerable cost savings.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in elderly with uncomplicated gallbladder disease is safe and effective and we suggest that it may become the surgical procedure of choice.
Divisione Clinicizzata di Chirurgia d'Urgenza e Pronto Soccorso, Azienda Ospedaliera Cannizzaro, Catania. marcof@itsa.ucsf.edu
P M A
PM
Fisichella
A
A
Di Stefano
I
I
Di Carlo
G
G
La Greca
D
D
Russello
F
F
Latteri
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000191:economics; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000191:economics; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D013997:Time Factors