title: Factors associated with prolonged stay after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in elderly patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in elderly patients has been linked to higher complication rates and longer lengths of stay. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors associated with prolonged postoperative hospitalization in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of 287 patients aged 65 years or older, who underwent successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy between January 2001 and July 2006, were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical data was abstracted from the chart and compared between patients with a shorter or longer postoperative stay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median postoperative hospital stay was three days (interquartile range 3-5). Forty-eight patients had complications, with an overall morbidity of 16% and mortality of 0.7%. The only independent predictor of prolonged postoperative stay was the occurrence of any major complication [odds ratio, 3.144; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.882-5.251]. The physiological and operative severity score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity (POSSUM) and underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were independently associated with major complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A major complication is the most important cause of prolonged hospital stay after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the elderly. No specific comorbidity has direct impact on the duration of hospitalization, but pulmonary disease is associated with increased risk of major complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mackay Memorial Hospital, 92, Sec 2, Chung-Shan North Road, Taipei, 10449, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yuan-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chien-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tsen-Long
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Kuo-Shyang
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jeng
authors.forename: Jie-Jen
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tsang-Pai
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome