Acute cholecystitis in elderly patients: A case for early cholecystectomy

Efficacy of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared with percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage in treating acute calculous cholecystitis in elderly patients

BACKGROUND

Acute calculous cholecystitis is a common acute disease in elderly patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) compared to percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGD) for treating acute calculous cholecystitis in elderly patients.

METHODS

This retrospective study compared the clinical outcomes of two groups of elderly patients treated with ELC (group A) and PTGD (group B) from January 2018 to December 2021. Preoperative clinical characteristics and postoperative treatment outcomes were analyzed for both groups.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences in preoperative clinical characteristics between the ELC and PTGD groups. ELC took longer to perform (69.8 ± 15.9 min vs. 29.6 ± 5.3 min, p < 0.001) but resulted in a significantly shorter duration of pain (1.9 ± 0.9 days vs. 3.9 ± 1.0 days, p < 0.001) and hospital stay (6.3 ± 2.5 days vs. 9.9 ± 3.6 days, p < 0.001), and a lower rate of sepsis (3.4% vs. 16.9%, p < 0.019). Time to soft diet was faster in the ELC group (1.5 ± 0.9 days vs. 3.0 ± 1.6 days, p < 0.001). Fewer patients in the ELC group experienced surgical reintervention than in the PTGD group (0% vs. 5.6%, p = 0.043). The incidence of postoperative complications and readmission rates in the ELC group were significantly lower than those in the PTGD group (ELC, 3.6%; PTGD, 25.4%, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

ELC is an effective treatment option for acute calculous cholecystitis in elderly patients, and has the added benefits of low postoperative complication rates, rapid recovery, shorter duration of pain, and excellent curative effects as compared to PTGD.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy in elderly patients with acute cholecystitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is often preferred over early cholecystectomy (EC) for elderly patients presenting with acute cholecystitis (AC). However, there is a lack of solid data on this issue. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we searched the Medline and Web of Science databases for reports published before December 2022. Studies that assessed elderly patients (aged 65 years and older) with AC treated using PC, in comparison with those treated with EC, were included. Outcomes analyzed were perioperative outcomes and readmissions. The literature search yielded 3279 records, from which 7 papers (1208 patients) met the inclusion criteria. No clinical trials were identified. Patients undergoing PC comprised a higher percentage of cases with ASA III or IV status (OR 3.49, 95%CI 1.59-7.69, p = 0.009) and individuals with moderate to severe AC (OR 1.78, 95%CI 1.00-3.16, p = 0.05). No significant differences were observed in terms of mortality and morbidity. However, patients in the PC groups exhibited a higher rate of readmissions (OR 3.77, 95%CI 2.35-6.05, p < 0.001) and a greater incidence of persistent or recurrent gallstone disease (OR 12.60, 95%CI 3.09-51.38, p < 0.001). Elderly patients selected for PC, displayed greater frailty and more severe AC, but did not exhibit increased post-interventional morbidity and mortality compared to those undergoing EC. Despite their inferior life expectancy, they still presented a greater likelihood of persistent or recurrent disease compared to the control group.

Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: Does age matter?

AIM

Advances in laparoscopic surgery and perioperative care have improved the prognosis of operated patients, especially the oldest among them. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute calculous cholecystitis in older adult patients.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was carried out of 567 patients who underwent early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute calculous cholecystitis between January 2003 and July 2021. The outcomes of older adult patients (≥ 75 years) were compared with those of younger patients.

RESULTS

The older adult group had significantly more patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥3 (37.5% vs 8.3%; P < 0.001) and more severe acute calculous cholecystitis (grade II; 82.8% vs 67%; P = 0.01). There were no significant differences regarding operative time (90 vs 80 min; P = 0.064), conversion rate (20.3% vs 13.5%; P = 0.144), and both intra- and postoperative morbidity, principally bile duct injuries (1.6% vs 0%; P = 0.113) and bile leakage (0% vs 1.2%; P = 1).

CONCLUSION

Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy could be proposed safely for older adult patients with mild and moderate acute cholecystitis. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 671-675.

The Safety of Minimally Invasive and Open Cholecystectomy in Elderly Patients With Acute Cholecystitis: A Systematic Review

Elderly patients with acute cholecystitis (AC) often receive no surgical treatment due to a high number of comorbidities and a high risk of operations. With an increasingly aged population worldwide, this systematic review aims to review the safety of minimally invasive cholecystectomy and open cholecystectomy in this population compared to younger patients. A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, PubMed Central, and Google Scholar databases on July 2, 2022. Articles in the English language published in the last five years with free full text and involving elderly patients with AC treated with minimally invasive and open cholecystectomy were selected. Moreover, a quality assessment was carried out by using each study's most commonly used assessment tools. Initially, the search yielded 1,252 potentially relevant articles. After the final selection process, 11 studies were included: one cross-sectional study, eight cohort studies, one case-control study, and one systematic review with meta-analyses. These studies involved a total of 378,986 participants, with 375,623 elderly patients. In the elderly, cholecystitis severity, decreased physical status, and multiple comorbidities increase the risk of complications with cholecystectomy. In addition, the elderly had more complications, open surgery conversions, biliary tract injuries, leaks, postoperative mortality, and hospital length of stay than younger patients. Nevertheless, minimally invasive cholecystectomy is a viable treatment option for elderly patients when performing a thorough perioperative assessment.

Önemli komorbid durumları olan yaşlı hastalarda epidural anestezi altında kolesistektomi

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical treatment of gallstone disease with open cholecystectomy under epidural anesthesia in elderly patients with significant comorbid conditions. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 80 consecutive elderly patients over 65 years of age with significant comorbid conditions who underwent open cholecytectomy under epidural anesthesia for the surgical treatment of gallstone disease between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2019, all performed by one surgeon. Results: Mean age was found 77 ± 16 years. Fifty of the patients (62.5%) were females. Forty-seven patients (58.75%) showed an American Society of Anesthesiologist Physical Status (ASA, PS) of 3. The most frequently associated comorbidity involved the cardiovascular system (46 patients, 57.5%). Surgical indications were acute cholecystitis (AC) in 37 patients (46.25%) and chronic cholecystitis in 32 patients (40%). Mean operation time was 55 ± 22 minutes. Hospital stay was mean 12 ± 5 days. Total complication rate was 38.75%, and pulmonary complication was the most frequently encountered (13.75%). 30-day mortality was seen in 5 patients (6.25%). Conclusion: In older, high-risk gallstone patients, an open cholecystectomy with epidural anesthesia may be recommended. For this patient population, the mortality and morbidity rates are acceptable.

Epidemiological and clinical assessment of patients undergoing Videolaparoscopic Cholecystectomy at a Curitiba teaching hospital

OBJECTIVE

to assess clinical and epidemiological factors of patients undergoing video cholecystectomy at the Hospital da Cruz Vermelha do Paraná, Curitiba unit, operated from September 2016 to September 2018, as well as the influence of comorbidities, sex and advanced age on the postoperative prognosis, while in the hospital.

METHODS

Analytic retrospective study. The analyzed variables were obtained by the review of medical records. Statistical analyses were performed considering the significance level p < 0.05.

RESULTS

389 patients, of whom 265 were women and 124 men, were included. The mean age was 51.5 years, 58.8% of the patients were diagnosed with at least one comorbidity, and 74.6% were overweight or obese. The incidence of intraoperative complications was 1.3%, postoperative 3.8% and, mortality, 0.3%. Some risk factors were identified as worse postoperative prognosis, such as Diabetes Mellitus, hypertension, presence of one or more comorbidities and mainly, advanced age, which was related to longer hospitalization times (p < 0,001), need of intensive therapy (p < 0,001), conversion to open surgery (p = 0,003) and postoperative complications (p < 0,001). Furthermore, the male sex was predictive of longer hospitalization times (p = 0,003) and need of intensive therapy (p = 0,01).

CONCLUSION

the presence of comorbidities, male sex, and advanced age are predictive factors of bad prognosis for patients undergoing video laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Safety and feasibility of prolonged versus early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a single-center retrospective study

Background

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the standard treatment for acute cholecystitis (AC), and it should be performed within 72 h of symptoms onset if possible. In many undesired situations, LC was performed beyond the golden 72 h. However, the safety and feasibility of prolonged LC (i.e., performed more than 72 h after symptoms onset) are largely unknown, and therefore were investigated in this study.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled the adult patients who were diagnosed as AC and were treated with LC at the same admission between January 2015 and October 2018 in an emergency department of a tertiary academic medical center in China. The primary outcome was the rate and severity of adverse events, while the secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay and costs.

Results

Among the 104 qualified patients, 70 (67.3%) underwent prolonged LC and 34 (32.7%) underwent early LC (< 72 h of symptom onset). There were no differences between the two groups in mortality rate (none for both), conversion rates (prolonged LC 5.4%, and early LC 8.8%, P = 0.68), intraoperative and postoperative complications (prolonged LC 5.7% and early LC 2.9%, P ≥ 0.99), operation time (prolonged LC 193.5 min and early LC 198.0 min, P = 0.81), and operation costs (prolonged LC 8,700 Yuan, and early LC 8,500 Yuan, P = 0.86). However, the prolonged LC was associated with longer postoperative hospitalization (7.0 days versus 6.0 days, P = 0.03), longer total hospital stay (11.0 days versus 8.0 days, P < 0.01), and subsequently higher total costs (40,400 Yuan versus 31,100 Yuan, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Prolonged LC is safe and feasible for patients with AC for having similar rates and severity of adverse events as early LC, but it is also associated with longer hospital stay and subsequently higher total cost.

Conservative Management of Gallstone Disease in the Elderly Population: Outcomes and Recurrence

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The prevalence of gallstone disease increases with age, being early cholecystectomy the most accepted treatment in the vast majority of patients in order to prevent complications and recurrence. The aim of this study is to determine the recurrence rate and its possible predictors after initial non-operative management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed a consecutive series of patients, older than 65 years, admitted for a gallstone-related disease and treated with a non-operative management between January 2010 and December 2013. We analyzed comorbidities, clinical data, diagnosis, management, recurrence, and its treatment. Median follow-up after the discharge was 2 years. Recurrence was analyzed by a Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Possible recurrence's predictors were analyzed.

RESULTS

The study included 226 patients. Mean age was 80.4 ± 7.2 years, 127 (56%) were female. The main causes of index hospitalization were acute cholecystitis (58%) and biliary pancreatitis (18.1%). After 2 years of follow-up, the recurrence rate was 39.8%; mean time to recurrence was 255.2 ± 42.1 days, 81% of patients recurred within 1 year. Bile duct disease implied a higher recurrence rate than the gallbladder disease group (52% vs 33%, p < 0.001). Subjects with two or more diagnoses during index admission presented higher recurrence rate (32% vs 49%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

More than a third of elderly patients could present a recurrence within 2 years after initial non-operative management. Early cholecystectomy should be considered at index admission in order to prevent recurrence.

Acute Cholecystitis in Very Elderly Patients: Disease Management, Outcomes, and Risk Factors for Complications

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics, management, and outcomes of acute cholecystitis in patients ≥80 years.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of data from a prospective single-center patient registry.

Results

The study population was composed of 348 patients, which were divided into two groups: those younger (Group A) and those older (Group B) than the median age (85.4 years). Although demographic and clinical characteristics of the two groups were similar, the disease management was clearly different, with older patients undergoing cholecystectomy less frequently (n=80 46.0% in Group A vs n=39 22.4% in Group B; p < 0.001). The outcomes in both groups of age were similar, with 30-day mortality of 3.7%, morbidity of 17.2%, and readmissions of 4.2% and two-year AC recurrence in nonoperated patients of 22.5%. No differences were seen between operated and no operated patients. Severe (Grade III) AC was the only independent factor significantly associated with mortality (OR 86.05 (95% CI: 11–679); p < 0.001).

Conclusions

In elderly patients with AC, the choice of therapeutic options was not limited by the age per se, but rather by the disease severity (grade III AC) and/or poor physical status (ASA III-IV). In case of grade I-II AC, laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be safely performed and yield good results even in very old patients. Patients with grade III AC present high risk of morbidity and mortality, and the treatment should be individualized. ASA IV patients should avoid cholecystectomy, being antibiotic treatment and cholecystectomy the best option.

Results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the elderly

OBJECTIVE

to evaluate the results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the elderly compared with younger patients.

METHODS

we retrospectively reviewed computerized medical records of all patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for chronic or acute cholecystitis from January 1, 2011 to March 31, 2018 at a single teaching hospital. We stratified the patients into two groups: elderly (≥60 years of age) and younger (<60 years of age).

RESULTS

of 1,645 patients subjected to laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 1,161 (70.3%) were younger and 484 (29.7%) were elderly. The rate of male was higher in the elderly (n=185; 38.2%) group than in the younger (n=355; 30.6) (p=0.003). Jaundice was more common in the elderly (p=0.004). The rate of prior abdominal operation was also higher in the elderly (p<0.001). The percentage of patients with ASA score II, III, and IV was higher in the elderly group (p<0.001 in score II and III and 0.294 in score IV). Operative time was longer in the elderly (71.68±31.27) than in the younger group (p=0.001). The following perioperative data were higher in the elderly: acute cholecystitis (p<0.001), conversion rate (p=0.028), postoperative complications (p=0.042), and mortality (p=0.026).

CONCLUSION

the operative time is longer and the rate of acute cholecystitis, conversion to open cholecystectomy and postoperative complications are higher in the elderly patients submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy when compared with younger individuals.