Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy is Safe in the Elderly Patients

Abstract

Background: The aim of this review was to evaluate the rate oflaparoscopic surgery in elderly patients with gallstones and to compareit with their younger counterparts, also to study the safety and efficacyof laparoscopic cholecystectomy in elderly patients by comparing theresults with open cholecystectomy (OC).The relation between ages, comorbid diseases, mean operativetime, hospital stay, the incidence of major postoperative complicationsand the rate of conversion were also evaluated.Content: Twenty studies evaluated laparoscopic cholecystectomy inthe elderly. Compared with open cholecystectomy, elderly patientsundergoing the laparoscopic procedure had a lower incidence ofcomplications and a shorter hospitalization. Advanced age with itsconcomitant comorbid conditions may be associated with increasedpostoperative laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) complications andmore frequent conversion to open cholecystectomy (OC).Material and methods: An electronic search using the Midline and thesearch engine Google, Springer link and Highwire press databases wasperformed using the term laparoscopy cholecystectomy in elderlypatients. Literature published in the English language in the past 9 yearswas reviewed. Relevant surgical textbooks were also reviewed.Methods literature searches were conducted to identify: (1) comparativestudies which reported (LC) outcomes in elderly Compared with opencholecystectomy and; (2) Studies comparing outcomes of (LC) in elderlywith their younger age group (3) Also comparing the outcome ofelderly patients presented electively and urgently.Conclusions: Underlying cardiopulmonary diseases, individuals olderthan 65 years tolerate laparoscopic cholecystectomy well. Postoperativecomplications and hospitalization are lower than in opencholecystectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe procedurein gall bladder diseases.Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe procedure for acuteCholecystitis in elderly patients, resulting in fewer complications andshorter hospital stay than open cholecystectomy. Emergency LCsurgery in elderly patients have higher rate of morbidity and mortalitybut less than in OC.