Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2015 Mar 10;6(2):149-55.
doi: 10.14336/AD.2014.0429. eCollection 2015 Mar.

Laparoscopic surgery in the elderly: a review of the literature

Andrew T Bates  1 , Celia Divino  1
Affiliations
Review

Laparoscopic surgery in the elderly: a review of the literature

Andrew T Bates et al. Aging Dis. .

Abstract

Laparoscopic techniques are gradually replacing many common surgical procedures that are performed in an increasingly aging population. Laparoscopy places different physiologic demands on the body than in open surgery. PubMed was searched for evidence related to the use of laparoscopy in the elderly population to treat common surgical pathologies. Randomized trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses were preferred. Currently, over 40% of all surgeries performed in the U.S. are on patients older than 65 years. By the end of the 21st century, Americans are expected to live 20 years longer than the current average. However, elderly patients clearly show higher rates of surgical morbidity and mortality overall. Laparoscopic techniques show decreased wound complications, post-operative ileus, intraoperative blood loss, and reduced need for post-operative rehabilitation. In conclusion, laparoscopic surgery is safe in the elderly population and affords multiple advantages including decreased pain and convalescence. However, the physiology of laparoscopy places demands on elderly patients that typically present with more medical comorbidities.

Keywords: Elderly; Geriatric; Laparoscopy; Surgery.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. U.S. Government Printing Office. U.S. Bureau of the Census Current Population Reports, series P-25, N. 952, projections of the population of the United States by age, sex, and race: 1983–2080 (2000). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
    1. Münz R (2007). Old Europe. A look ahead the twenty-first century. Eurozine, 4(25):1–10.
    1. Turrentine FE,Hongkun W,Simpson VB,Jones RS (2006). Surgical Risk Factors, Morbidity, and Mortality in Elderly Patients. JACS, 203(6):865–877. - PubMed
    1. Ballesta Lopez C,Cid JA,Poves I,Bettonica C,Villegas L,Memon MA (2003). Laparoscopic surgery in the elderly patient. Surg Endosc, 17(2):333–7. - PubMed
    1. Safran DB,Orlando R (1994). Physiologic effects of Pneumoperitoneum. 3rd Am J Surg, 167(2): 281–6. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources