Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients over 70 years of age: review of 176 cases
Pérez Lara, F.J.; de Luna Díaz, R.; Moreno Ruiz, J.; Suescun García, R.; del Rey Moreno, A.; Hernández Carmona, J.; Oliva Muñoz, H.
Revista Espanola de Enfermedades Digestivas Organo Oficial de la Sociedad Espanola de Patologia Digestiva 98(1): 42-48
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 1130-0108 PMID: 16555932 Document Number: 601528
Introduction: we assessed the results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 176 patients over the age of 70 years.Patients and methods: the study included all patients older than 70 years of age who underwent laparoscopic surgery cholelithiasis during the previous ten years. Variables studied included age, sex, type of operation (programmed/emergency), comorbidity, anesthetic risk, intraoperative cholangiography, conversion to open surgery, number of trocars, reoperation, residual choledocholithiasis, postoperative hospital stay, morbidity and mortality.Results: the study included 176 patients (23.29% men and 76.71% women). The mean age was 74.86 years. The mean hospital stay was 1.27 days, with 16.98% morbidity and 0.56% mortality.Conclusions: laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe procedure in older patients. It results in faster recovery, a shorter postoperative stay and lower rates of morbidity and mortality than open bile duct surgery.