Is Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy a safe method for elderly patients? A retrospective clinical study

INTRODUCTION: As in developed countries, the elderly population is gradually growing in our country. Therefore, the approach to diseases of these individuals may be different from adults and young individuals. Acute cholecystitis is common in elderly patients and may sometimes pose a high risk. In this clinical study, we aimed to compare our surgical treatment outcomes for acute cholecystitis in elderly and adult patients.
METHODS: The study included 225 patients who were operated with the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis in the General Surgery Clinic of Seyhan State Hospital between 2013 and 2019. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their ages. The group 1 consisted of patients aged 75 years and older, while the group 2 included patients younger than 75 years of age. The patient data were obtained by scanning the database. The preoperative and postoperative data of the patients were recorded. The patients' age, morbidity, mortality and length of hospital stay were compared.
RESULTS: When the patients in the elderly group were compared with the patients in the adult group, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery, bleeding, bile leak, abscess and peritoneal collection. Our mortality and morbidity rates were similar in both groups and were consistent with the literature.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Elderly patients with acute cholecystitis can be operated laparoscopically, as in other adult patients. Treatment approaches do not vary for elderly and young patients.