OUTCOMES OF LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Awni Ismail Sultan*, Mohammed Mohammud Habash, Sami Hassoon Ali and Ozdan Akram Ghareeb

ABSTRACT

In the current era, laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the preferred option for treating cases of cholelithiasis, so objective of our research was to estimate the efficacy of LC in elderly patients with cholithiasis to determine the Interest of a more conservative technique for them. A retrospective investigation of 120 patients with cholelithiasis, aged (60-80), who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in surgical wards in private hospitals in Diyala and Kirkuk (Iraq) between January 2023 and March 2024, were included. Data recorded in hospitals were relied upon to approve the diagnosis of cholelithiasis. According to the results, out of 120 patients studied, 12 (27%) of them were converted to open cholecystectomy in group (70-80) compared to 7 (9%) in age group (60-69). Also, patients in the group (70-80) had more bleeding during the operation (7%) compared to the (60-69) group (3%). There were no bile leaks and no deaths were reported in both groups. Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy were higher among patients (70-80), especially with regard to conversion to open cholecystectomy compared to patients (60-69) years old. It was concluded that laparoscopic cholecystectomy in older ages was generally safe and effective, although there were few patients required conversion to open cholecystectomy.

Keywords: Cholecystectomy, laparoscopic, cholelithiasis, bile leaks, bleeding.