Differences Between Gallstone Patients Over and Under 65 Years of Age

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Recently the number of elderly gallstone patients has increased, in Korea. The aim of this study is to analyze and to measure the risk factors associated with operation on elderly gallstone patients. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 206 gallstone patients who had been admitted and operated on in the department of general surgery. Konkuk University Hospital, between January, 1993 and December, 1999. The patients were divided into 2 groups, over and under age 65. In each group, analysis was done on sex distribution, the ratio according to location of gallstone, duration of hospital stay, duration of general anesthesia and operative mortality, and then the above factors of each group were compared. RESULTS: 1) The ratio of common bile duct stones in patients over age 65 was two times of that in patients under age 65(48%,24%) 2) The overall operative mortality was 1.9% and has no correlation with old age. 3) Severe coexisting disease may seem the risk factor for operative mortality. CONCLUSION: In the diagnosis and management of gallstones in the elderly, the possibility of common bile duct stone should be suspected. And in order to reduce the operative mortality, careful preoperative evaluation and treatment of coexisting disease should be done.