Objective: To determine the outcome of thoracic epidural anaesthesia in open cholecystectomy procedures of comorbid advanced elderly patients.
Study design: Observational study.
Place and duration of study: Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey during 2014-2019.
Methodology: This study included 103 geriatric patients of over 65 years, who underwent open cholecystectomy under thoracic epidural anaesthesia during the study period. Patient files, anaesthesia registration forms, early postoperative follow-up, and discharge process were retrospective.
Results: The mean age of the patients included in the study was 79.42 ± 9.03 years, while the mean operation time was 68.02 ± 17.44 minutes. While only 7 (6.8%) patients had a chronic disease, the number of patients with two or three comorbid diseases was 67 (65%). The number of patients with 4 or more comorbidities was 29 (28.2%). The most common intraoperative complications were hypotension (n = 22, 21.4%) and bradycardia (n = 19, 18.4%). Intraoperative desaturation was observed in 7 (6.8%) patients; and oxygen and bronchodilator therapy was effective. The median discharge time was 6.5 (5.0-8.25) days; whereas, 5 (4.9%) patients died postoperatively.
Conclusion: In open cholecystectomy operations on comorbid advanced elderly patients, thoracic epidural anaesthesia can be preferred to general anaesthesia. Key Words: Geriatrics, Cholecystectomy, Anesthesia, Thoracic epidural, Comorbidity.