Outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the elderly: A single-center study

INTRODUCTION: The elderly population is at high risk for perioperative morbidity and mortality due to their disease profiles. This study aimed to evaluate the results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) performed in a single center in terms of young and elderly patients.
METHODS: Patients who underwent LC between January 2022 and March 2023 were evaluated retrospectively. Two hundred and eighty-three patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: ≥65 years and <65 years, and perioperative findings were compared.
RESULTS: Patients aged ≥65 had higher rates of heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, and neurological disease; American Society of Anesthesiologists Score II–III; longer length of hospital stay (LOS); and longer length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay than patients aged <65. In addition, patients aged ≥65 had lower levels of hematocrit, hemoglobin, platelets, and albumin than patients aged <65, and patients aged ≥65 had higher levels of urea, creatinine, and total bilirubin than patients aged <65. High white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, aspartate transferase, and bilirubin values, as well as low hematocrit, hemoglobin, and albumin values, were associated with longer LOS and ICU stay. In addition, high aspartate transferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, direct bilirubin, and total bilirubin values were associated with increased development of complications. No mortality was observed during the study period.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: LC is a safe method and has acceptable mortality and morbidity rates, even in patients with high comorbidities in elective conditions.