Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in elderly patients.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we hypothesize that LC is a safe procedure in a non-laparoscopic specialized general surgery unit in a teaching hospital.


METHODS
We evaluated retrospectively the data of 286 patients that had symptomatic cholelithiasis and were operated on with LC.


CONCLUSIONS
Fifty-four (18.9%) male and 232 (81.1%) female patients underwent LC. Morbidity in patients over 75 years was higher than in patients under 75 years. Mean hospitalization time was 1.5 days. LC is as safe in young patients as in patients at age ranging from 65 to 75 at a general surgery setting at a teaching facility. Although postoperative morbidity risk is higher in patients over the age of 75 years and diagnosed with symptomatic cholelithiasis, the main reason for increased morbidity is having an ASA score greater or equal to 3, and it is independent from age. In conclusion, LC can be performed in patients older than 75 years of age after giving them proper treatment for comorbidities (Tab. 1, Ref. 12).
Osman
Yildirim
Y
Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. oyildirim99@yahoo.com
Ebru
Menekse
M
Umit
Turan
T
Volkan
Oter
O
Melih
Karabeyoglu
K
Belma
Kocer
K
Betul
Bozkurt
B
Omer
Cengiz
C
Atilla
Soran
S
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors