LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY IN THE ELDERLY PATIENTS. AN EXPERIENCE AT LIAQUAT UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL JAMSHORO

Authors

  • Arshad M. Malik
  • Abdul Aziz laghari
  • K. Altaf Hussain Talpur
  • Aisha Memon
  • Rafique Pathan
  • Jan Mohammad Memon

Abstract

Background: Advancing age with its associated co-morbidities increases the likelihood ofpostoperative complications as well as conversion rate during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Recentstudies have also questioned efficacy of this procedure in geriatric patients. The present study assessesthe safety and applicability of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in geriatric patients. The objective of thepresent study was to asses safety and applicability of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the elderlypatients of 65 years and above. Methods: This is a prospective analysis of 173 patients, over 65 yearsof age, who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy from December 2002 to November 2006 atLiaquat University Hospital, Jamshoro. Patients presenting with complicated and uncomplicatedgallstone disease were included in the study population and all of them were operated laparoscopically.The data included demographic details, co-morbidities, underlying biliary pathology, indications forsurgery, operative and postoperative complications, morbidity and mortality, and hospital stay. Thestatistical analysis of the data performed on SPSS version 10. Results: Laparoscopic cholecystectomyundertaken in 173 elderly patients with a mean age of 69.72 years, out of whom 52 (30.05%) weremales and 121 (69.94%) were females. Co-morbid conditions were identified in 53.17% (n=92)patients and included hypertension in 38 patients (21.96%), Diabetes Mellitus in 23 patients (13.29%),COPD in 19 (10.98%) patients, Coronary artery disease in 9 (5.20%) and cardiac arrhythmias in 3(1.73%) patients. Indications for surgery included simple biliary colic in majority of patients (69.94%)and complicated stone disease in 52 (30.05%) subjects. There were 37 (21.38%) emergencylaparoscopic cholecystectomies and 136 (78.61%) patients were operated electively. Mean operativetime was 100 minutes with a SD 29.03. Fourteen (8.09 %) patients required conversion to OC (OpenCholecystectomy) due to various reasons. Mean hospital stay was 6.28 days. Overall 23 (13.29 %)patients developed postoperative complications. One patient died of acute MI on 2nd postoperative day.Conclusion: There is no undue risk in laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the elderly population and theprocedure can be regarded as safe as in patients below 65 years of age.Key words: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, Geriatric population, Morbidity.

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