Resumen

SANCHEZ BEORLEGUI, Jesús, LAGUNAS LOSTAO, Emilio, LAMATA HERNANDEZ, Félix et al. Tratamiento de la colecistitis aguda en en el anciano: cirugía urgente frente a terapia médica y cirugía diferida. Rev. gastroenterol. Perú, oct./dic. 2009, vol.29, no.4, p.332-340. ISSN 1022-5129.

INTRODUCTION. Acute cholecystitis in elderly patients is a frequent disease characterized by a high mortality rate and serious complications. The choice between emergency surgery or conservative therapy in addition to delayed surgery is a controversial issue. PATIENTS AND METHODS. Retrospective cohort study over patients aged 70 years or older undergoing acute cholecystitis treatment between 2003 and 2009. Epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, surgical and cost-effectiveness parameters were analysed. Statistical method: We use Chi squared test, Student´s t test and ANOVA. A level of p < 0.05 was accepted as significant. RESULTS. During the six-year period studied 173 episodes of acute cholecystitis were treated on 147 patients (52% females), with an average age of 80.6 years (maximum 101). In 103 episodes (77 patients) medical treatment was taken, 31 of them undergone elective surgery by means of 100% laparoscopic approach, 6,4% conversion rate, 9,6% morbidity in absence of mortality. In other 85 patients emergency surgery was performed, 78.5% of them through laparoscopy approach with a conversion rate of 19.7%, 53% morbidity and 3,5% mortality. Conclusions. Taking into account all variables, emergency surgery and medical treatment followed by elective cholecistectomy get similar outcomes, making better progress those who underwent early laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Palabras llave: Acute Cholecystitis; Cholelithiasis; Emergency surgery; Medical treatment; Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy; Open surgery; Elderly; Surgical complications.