Selection of biliary decompression method for treatment of obstructive jaundice in patients of older age groups.

OBJECTIVE

Introduction: The development of minimally invasive techniques allowed to expand the indications and possibility of performing surgeries in patients of elderly and old age with obstructive jaundice (OJ). However, the criteria for the selection of minimally invasive and open surgeries in patients with OJ remain undefined. The aim: To study the efficacy of single or multiple-stage methods of biliary decompression for treatment of OJ in patients of older age groups.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: We have analyzed the results of surgical treatment in 140 patients with OJ of benign origin. The patients were divided in two groups: group I (n = 70) where two-stage minimally invasive methods were used and group II (n = 70) where single-stage minimally invasive and open surgeries were used. The average age was 75 ± 6.0 years. The average duration of OJ was 22 ± 3.7 days.

RESULTS

Results: The patients in group I were subjected to two-stage minimally invasive surgeries in 70 (50.0%) cases. The patients in group II were subjected to single-stage minimally invasive surgeries in 16 (11.4%) cases and to open surgeries in 54 (38.6%) cases. The average duration of hospital stay in patients of group I made 7.1 ± 1.5 days, and 11.2 ± 1.2 days in patients of group II. The patients of group I experienced complications in 5 (7.1%) cases and patients of group II experienced complications in 10 (14.3%) cases. 1 (1.4%) patient died.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: Stepwise approach to minimally invasive surgeries in patients of elderly and old age with bile duct obstructions allows to reduce the frequency of postoperative complications down to 7.2% (p< 0.05). Single-stage correction is recommended for patients with hyperbilirubinemia of less than 100 mcmol/l and the duration of OJ of less than 14 days, with presence of compensated or subcompensated co-occurring pathology as well as in the absence of purulent cholangitis and biliary pancreatitis.