[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in elderly patients]

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the method of choice of surgical treatment of gallbladder diseases. Operations in elderly people over 65 years because of chronic diseases, are often associated with high operative and postoperative morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcome of LC in the treatment of cholelithiasis in patients older than 65 years. For evaluation of LC effectiveness and security in old patients, we did this prospective analysis of 81 patients surgically treated because of symptomatic cholelithiasis. We had analyzed associated diseases, operative and postoperative complications, the reasons of conversion to open cholecystectomy. The research points to the small percentage of operative and postoperative complications, short hospital stay, less postoperative pain, quick recovery and savings in treatment. The age can not be contraindication for LC in older patients. In uncomplicated symptomatic cholelithiasis in elderly people, LC is a successful and safe procedure. Complicated symptomatic cholelithiasis, because of longer duration of operations is looking for a good assessment of general condition and associated diseases for LC.