Publication:

Quality of life and surgical outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients over the age of 80: a retrospective study

Background As the United Kingdom’s population ages an increasing number of patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy are over the age of eighty. The current literature base focuses on a younger patient cohort and fails to consider quality of life benefit from the intervention. Assessing quality of life benefit as well as operative morbidity and post-operative complications together is important in the assessment of whether patients of this age should be managed surgically or conservatively.

Methods A retrospective study was conducted on all patients above the age of eighty undergoing elective cholecystectomy between January 2017 to January 2019 at a tertiary care centre in London. Intra-operative morbidity and post-operative complications were obtained from inpatient notes and quality of life was measured using the gastrointestinal quality of life questionnaire (GIQLI) pre and post operatively.

Results 120 patients over the age of eighty underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the three-year timeframe. 11% experienced post-operative complications. A statistically significant improvement in GIQLI score was noted post-operatively across all domains including social function, gastrointestinal symptoms, physical function and emotional function.

Conclusions Post-operative complication rates were higher amongst this cohort compared to series studying a younger cohort of patients. However, quality of life significantly benefited from the intervention for patients over the age of 80. Hence, amongst carefully selected patients, laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains a viable treatment option and can greatly benefit the individual.