[Acute cholecystitis in the elderly]

We retrospectively studied 150 patients aged over 65 years who had been operated for acute cholecystitis in order to define the surgical results and evaluate this treatment as a function of age. The patients were divided into two groups. Group I included patients between the age of 65 and 79 years, n = 99 (53 males and 46 females). Group II included patients aged 80 years and over, n = 51 (14 males and 37 females). The data were compared with the chi 2 test and the Kruskall and Wallis test. Associated affections were observed in 69 patients in group I and in 36 patients in group II (NS). The clinical picture was similar in the 2 groups with manifestations of pain in the right hypochondral region (group I, n = 97; group II, n = 50), fever (group I, n = 73; group 2, n = 38) and abdominal defence (group I, n = 62; group II, n = 35). Echography revealed the diagnosis in almost all cases in both groups. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of mean operative delay and length of hospital stay. Age increased significantly the risk of exploration of the main bile duct (group I, n = 14; group II, n = 15, p < 0.05). Nevertheless, this exploration did not affect post-operative follow-up. Mortality was 6.7% with 4 deaths in group I and 6% in group II (NS). Post-operative complications were observed in 36 patients in group I and 28 in group II (p < 0.05) (43% overall including deaths).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)