Aim: Our aim was to evaluate the rate of laparoscopic surgery in elderly patients with gallstones and to compare it with their younger counterparts. The relation between age and the rate of conversion was also evaluated. Materials and Methods: Medical records of the patients who underwent surgery for gallstones during the last six years were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups according to their age as below and above 65 years. Age, sex, type of operation and rate of conversion were all recorded for both groups and analyzed. Results: There were 1783 patients aged under 65 years in Group 1 and 318 patients over 65 years in Group 2. The majority of the patients in each group were female. 1916 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery and the remaining 185 patients underwent open surgery. Laparoscopic cholecystectomies were converted to open due to various problems in 151 cases. The conversion rates were 8% vs 10% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Conclusions: Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy is performed more often in younger patients, age does not seem to be a predictive factor for either conversion or morbidity; thus, laparoscopy could also be safely used in the elderly.

Aim: Our aim was to evaluate the rate of laparoscopic surgery in elderly patients with gallstones and to compare it with their younger counterparts. The relation between age and the rate of conversion was also evaluated. Materials and Methods: Medical records of the patients who underwent surgery for gallstones during the last six years were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups according to their age as below and above 65 years. Age, sex, type of operation and rate of conversion were all recorded for both groups and analyzed. Results: There were 1783 patients aged under 65 years in Group 1 and 318 patients over 65 years in Group 2. The majority of the patients in each group were female. 1916 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery and the remaining 185 patients underwent open surgery. Laparoscopic cholecystectomies were converted to open due to various problems in 151 cases. The conversion rates were 8% vs 10% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Conclusions: Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy is performed more often in younger patients, age does not seem to be a predictive factor for either conversion or morbidity; thus, laparoscopy could also be safely used in the elderly.