title: [Clinical study on laparoscopic approach to cholelithiasis in the elderly].
abstract: The Authors report 66 cases of patients aged 75 years or older who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy: 28 cases presented a clinical picture of acute cholecystitis, 3 cases had associated common bile duct stones. A high percentage of patients had cardiovascular disease: 29 patients presented with cardiopaties, of these 9 cases had a history of myocardial infarction, 31 patients had artheriosclerotic hypertension, associated, in 7 patients with signs of brain ischemia. Five patients were suffering from Parkinson's disease, 7 were carriers of diabetes, 2 had liver cirrosis. Three patients were converted due to extensive presence of adhesions from previous surgery. Morbidity and mortality rates were respectively 12% and 1.5%. The Authors think that laparoscopic technique widens indications and reduces risks of cholecystectomy also in elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi G. D'Annunzio di Chieti, Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waku
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Di Bartolomeo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aceto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Innocenti
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000601:surgery; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors