The application of laparoscopic appendectomy in elderly patients with appendicitis / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the advantages and summerize the practice of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) for elderly patients. Methods Forty one elderly patients with appendicitis aged from 60 to 76 were treated with LA. The operative procedure, surgical indications, recovery, postoperative pain, and complications, as well as the period and the cost for hospitalizing were studied. Results All 41 patients were comfirmed appendicitis through LA. Thirty nine patients undergone LA were operated smoothly. Only two patients were cured with exploratory laparotomy. The preoperative diagnosis was confirmed in 6 patients and the complication of other diseases were found in 5 cases by LA. Two cases were operated by abdominal incision during LA. Postoperative complications, such as infection of the incision and pain were less occurred. The concurred diseases with appendicitis need simple treating. The hospitalizing period was 4 days on the average and the cost was 20%～30% higher than other procedures. Conclusions Most of elderly patients can be early diagnosed and timely treated by LA. LA could be a more popular choice for the elderly patients with appendicitis since its advantages of safe and minimal invasion. It has been an outstandihg method in treating appendicitis compared to other traditional methods.