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The influence of age on early surgical treatment of acute cholecystitis
L A Hidalgo1, G Capellá, J Pi-Figueras
1Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Hospital de la Santa Creu, Barcelona, Spain.
Insights
Advanced age does not contraindicate early surgical treatment for acute cholecystitis. This study found no significant differences in morbidity or mortality between younger and older patient groups undergoing surgery for acute gallbladder inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Acute cholecystitis is a common surgical emergency.
- Age is often a consideration in surgical risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of advanced age on outcomes of early surgical treatment for acute cholecystitis.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 100 patients undergoing early surgery for acute cholecystitis was divided into two age groups: <60 years and >60 years.
- Clinical data, including comorbidities and outcomes, were compared between the groups.
Main Results:
- Patients over 60 years exhibited higher incidences of shock, leukocytosis, hyperglycemia, and uremia (p<0.05).
- Overall diagnostic accuracy was 94%, with a 4.1% mortality rate.
- No statistically significant differences in morbidity or mortality were observed between the age groups.
Conclusions:
- Advanced age is not a contraindication for prompt surgical intervention in acute cholecystitis.
- Early surgical management can be safely performed in elderly patients with acute cholecystitis.
Abstract:
This study was undertaken to assess the influence of age on the early surgical treatment of acute cholecystitis. One hundred consecutive patients who had early operations for acute cholecystitis were divided into two groups according to age. Group 1 consisted of 41 patients who were younger than 60 years of age, and group 2 was made up of 59 patients who were more than 60 years of age. Shock, leukocytosis, hyperglycemia and uremia were more common in those patients in group 2 (p less than 0.05). The over-all diagnostic effectiveness was 94 per cent. The mortality rate was 4.1 per cent (n = 4). There were no significant differences in morbidity and mortality between both groups. In conclusion, advanced age is not a contraindication for early surgical treatment of acute cholecystitis.
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