[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in octogenarian patients. A comparative study between two geriatric population groups].

INTRODUCTION

In the current article, we analyse the results and complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in octogenarian patients.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: Retrospective study in patients older than 80 years, who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy between January 2002 and August 2007. Variables analysed were presentation, physical condition, anaesthetic risk, conversion rate, morbidity and hospital stay. A comparison was made with patients aged between 70 and 79 years old. The chi(2) and Student's t tests were used for statistical analysis. The level of significance was defined as a p value less than 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 64 patients were operated on, of which 39 (63%) were women and 25 men, with a mean age 83.7 years. Surgery was scheduled in 40 (62.5%) cases and urgent in 24 cases. The conversion rate to open cholecystectomy was 10.9% and the average hospital stay was 3.9 days. Two patients required re-intervention and two patients died.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice for symptomatic cholelithiasis in octogenarians. The laparoscopic approach should be considered for the management of acute cholecystitis in the very old (except where contraindicated) before the development of complications.