Introduction: The increasing aging of the population also increases the prevalence of symptomatic gallbladder diseases. It is important to analyse their surgical treatment in the elderly.
Methods: All the laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed in our surgery department on patients aged 80 years-old or over from 1992 to 2007 were included in this study.
Results: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed on 133 patients 80 years-old and over, with 63% of them women, and an average age of 83.23 years. Biliary colic (29%) and acute pancreatitis (44%) were the main reasons for surgery. Associated diseases were found in 73% of them. Only 7.5% needed urgent surgery, even although 71% were admitted urgently. There were 13.5% conversions to open surgery, 17% morbidity and 2.3% mortality.
Conclusions: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be recommended in symptomatic gallbladder disease in the elderly.