Background: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the feasabil
ity and the complications or benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC)
in the patients older than 75 years.
Methods: From January 1992 to July 1998, a total of 863 patients underwent
LC, of these patients, 102 patients older than 75 years (group 1) were comp
ared with 761 younger patients (group 2).
Results: In the elderly, 35.3% were at high surgical risk (American Society
of Anesthesiology [ASA] III and ASA TV). The conversion rate to open chole
cystectomy (OC) was 21.6%. The mean length of hospital stay was 6.9 days fo
r both laparoscopy and conversion. Morbidity and mortality rates were 13.7%
and 1%, respectively. No patient suffered intraoperative cardiopulmonary c
omplication, and there was no reoperation in the elderly.
Conclusions: Elderly patients experience more complications and longer dura
tion of hospital stay than younger patients. However, our results compare f
avorably with other OC studies in elderly patients.