Laparoscopy Versus Open Appendectomy for Elderly Patients: A Single-Center Experience

Abstract

Objective: Acute appendicitis rates are gradually increasing in the elderly people population with prolonged life expectancy. This study aims to compare applicability of laparoscopic and open surgical methods in patients treated surgically for acute appendicitis over 65 years of age. Materials and Methods: Patients over 65 years old who underwent surgical treatment for acute appendicitis at the Sakarya University Hospital between 2011-2018 were included in the study. The patients were clas-sified according to the surgical method applied as laparoscopic or open appendectomy and complicated or non-complicated appendicitis. All groups were evaluated in terms of mean age, gender, white blood cell (WBC) levels, presence of comorbid disease, ASA score, operation time, the onset of oral intake, duration of hospital stay, postoperative intensive care require-ment, presence of complications and mortality. Results: Of the 161 patients who underwent appendectomy over 65, 98 were male (% 60,80) and 63 were female (% 39,20). It was determined that open appendectomy was per-formed in 109 (% 67,70) of the cases, and laparoscopic appendectomy in 52 (% 32,29). It was determined that 61 (% 55,91) of 109 cases undergoing open surgery and 22 (% 42,32) of 52 cases undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy were compli-cated acute appendicitis. Complications were observed in 24 (% 14,94) of one hun-dred and fifty patients. In terms of complications, no significant difference was found between laparoscopically operated groups and open appendectomy groups (P=0,873). Conclusion: Laparoscopic appendectomy is considered as a safely feasible method in the popu-lation of elderly and high comorbid patients.

Keywords

• akut apandisit
• laparoskopi
• yaşlı hasta
• acute appendicitis
• laparoscopy
• elderly