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