Introduction:

Minimal access surgery in general, and particularly laparoscopic abdominal surgery, have revolutionized surgery that offers improvement in the quality of life of patients, which is more evident in older adults.

Objective:

To describe the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic abdominal surgery in the aged adult.

Methods:

A descriptive investigation was carried out in a consecutive series of 204 aged adults with indication for laparoscopic abdominal surgery, at the National Center for Minimal Access Surgery, in the first semester of 2017.

Results:

The median age was 68.0 (60-90) years. The female sex predominated (71.6%). Comorbidity in 180 patients (88.2%). Vesicular lithiasis (43.2%), inguinal hernia (14.1%) and colorectal disorders (12.2%) were the most frequent diagnoses, while laparoscopic cholecystectomy (44.1%), inguinal hernioplasty (14.1%) %) and colorectal surgery (12.2%) were the most performed techniques. The median surgical time was 60.0 (15-360) minutes. There was a complication rate of 6.9%, a conversion rate of 3.4%, reintervention of 2.0% and mortality of 0.5%. The median of the hospital stay was 1.0 (1-52) days. The history of surgery for cancer was associated with the presence of complications, p=0.000.

Conclusions:

Laparoscopic abdominal surgery is an effective and safe option for the aged adult.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )