Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2016 , Vol 19, Issue 3
TIMING OF LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH MILD ACUTE BILIARY PANCREATITIS
Mehmet İLHAN, Yiğit SOYTAŞ, Ali Fuat Kaan GÖK, Süleyman BADEMLER, Recep GÜLOĞLU, Cemalettin ERTEKİN
Ä°stanbul University, Ä°stanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery, Ä°STANBUL Introduction: Age-related diseases have increased with the increase in average life expectancy. Biliary pancreatitis is one such disease, and its incidence increases with age. This study aimed to evaluate treatment outcomes for patients aged >65 years who were hospitalized for biliary pancreatitis and underwent cholecystectomy during initial hospitalization.

Materials and Method: A retrospective study was designed for patients aged >65 years who underwent early cholecystectomy for acute biliary pancreatitis at Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery, between January 2010 and December 2015. Patients were divided into group A (aged 65-74 years) and group B (aged ?75 years). Patients' demographics, comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) scores, history of previous abdominal operations, operation duration, postoperative morbidity and mortality, and length of hospital stay were analyzed.

Results: In total, 192 geriatric patients with acute biliary pancreatitis were analyzed. Seventy-nine (45 women, 34 men) of them underwent early LC for acute biliary pancreatitis during initial hospitalization. There was no significant difference in operation duration and length of hospital stay between the two groups. Postoperative oral intake started within 8 h. No significant difference was found in mortality and morbidity rates between the two groups.

Conclusion: Old age and accompanying comorbidities are fundamental predictors of surgical outcomes. Early LC should be suggested in elderly patients with the regression of mild pancreatitis before hospital discharge, with acceptable morbidity and mortality. It is feasible and safe for older patients to undergo LC. Cholecystectomy could be the definitive treatment for gallstone disease to prevent recurrent pancreatitis. Keywords : Geriatrics, Aged, Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic, Gallstone