Outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the elderly versus young patients

Objective: to see the outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in elderly v/s young patients. materials and methods: this study was carried out in general surgery department of nawaz sharif social security university hospital lahore from january 2009 to january 2011. we divided the patients into 2 groups on the basis of their age i.e.,below and above 60 years. analysis and record of age,sex,type of operation and rate of conversion of both the groups was done. results: total 200 patients had undergone cholecystectomies for chronic cholelithiasis in general surgery department of nawaz sharif social security university hospital lahore from january 2009 to january 2011. these 200 patients were divided into 2 groups on the basis of their age. group 1 included 140 patients of age <60 years where as group 2 included 60 patients of age >60 years. in each group majority of the patients were females. all patients underwent the lap. cholecystectomy. conclusion: the conclusion is that although the laparoscopic cholecystectomy is done more commonly in younger patients,age is not an important factor for both conversion and morbidity; thus in elderly patients laparoscopic surgery can also be performed safely.