Can Cholecystectomy Be Performed as Safely in Elderly Patients as It Is in Young Patients

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to compare the surgical outcomes between elderly and young patients undergoing surgery for gallstone disease and determine variations in patient characteristics, if any. Materials and Method: Data of patients who underwent surgery for gallstone disease at a single center between 2010 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Two patient groups were evaluated: patients <65 years and ≥65 years. Patient characteristics, preoperative outpatient clinic data, surgical data, and postoperative data were collected. Results: In total, 1,198 patients with a mean age of 54.77 ± 15.03 (15-91) years were assessed. Comorbid conditions, including cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, renal disease, and diabetes mellitus were significantly more common in elderly patients (p<0.001). Acute cholecystitis in the preoperative period was noted in 15.36% of young patients and in 30.4% of elderly patients (p<0.001). Need for emergency surgery was higher in elderly patients than in young patients [13.86% (47) and 9.31% (80), respectively] (p=0.021). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and open cholecystectomy were performed in 98.37% and 1.04% of young patients, respectively, and in 92.62% and 3.53% of elderly patients, respectively (p<0.001). Among factors affecting the length of hospital stay in elderly patients, the duration of hospitalization was significantly longer in elderly patients who underwent emergency surgery, open surgery, needed additional surgery, and who had high American Society of Anesthesiologists scores (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.013, p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Complications rates associated with cholecystectomy are similar between young and elderly patients when appropriate surgical preparations are performed. Surgery for gallstone disease can be performed safely in elderly patients with low morbidity and mortality rates.