Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Results In Patients With Different Age Groups

Aim: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has been most preferable method for benign gallbladder disease. Advanced age may be increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to compare the results of LC in patients according to different ages (age ≤ 30, 31 – 64 years, and age ≥ 65). Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed including overall 511 patients who underwent LC for benign disease of gallbladder at Ondokuzmayis University Medical Faculty and Mustafa Kemal University, Medical Faculty between November 2001 and November 2009. The patients are divided into three groups according to ages: Group A (age ≤ 30 years, n = 47), Group B (age = 31 – 64 years, n = 368), Group C (age ≥ 65, n = 96). Results; Symptomatic cholelithiasis was the most common indication for LC in all the groups (p > 0.05). Co-morbid diseases were significantly higher in the Group C (≥ 65 years) than in the Group A and B (≤ 30 years, 31 - 64 years) (p=0.001). Co-incidental biliary pathologies, and history of abdominal operation were similar in all the groups. However biliary duct and cystic artery anomalies  were significantly more common in the Group A than in the Group B and C (p=0.001). Conversion to OC was required in 26 (5.08 %) patients in this study. The major reason for the (21 cases, 80.76 %) was difficult dissection of the Calot’s triangle. There was no difference in morbidity among the groups (p>0.05).Conclusions: As a conclusion, it’s thought that biliary anomalies in young patients and co-morbid diseases disorders in elderly patients are more common. These factors do not affect the results of patient that preoperatively well evaluated. However surgeon should be aware of this condition and be careful for intraoperative and postoperative complication