Safety and feasibility of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in elderly patients (YSURG1401 study).

Abstract

725 Background: The safety and feasibility of laparoscopic surgery (LAP) for colorectal cancer has not yet been fully evaluated in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to compare the short term surgical outcomes of LAP and evaluate the safety and feasibility of LAP in colorectal cancer patients aged > 75 years. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer between April 2013 and March 2014 at Yokohama City University Hospital and its related general hospitals. The patients were categorized into two groups: elderly patients (≧75 years of age: group A) and non-elderly patients ( < 75 years of age: group B). Surgical outcomes and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. The severity of complications was evaluated using the Clavien–Dindo classification. Results: A total of 237 patients were evaluated in the present study. Eighty-four patients were classified into group A, and 153 into group B. Preoperative clinicopathological outcomes demonstrated no significant differences except for the ASA score. When comparing the surgical outcomes between group A and group B, the rate of conversion to open procedure (3.6 % vs 5.2 %, P = 0.751), median operation time (232 min vs 232 min, P = 0.318), median blood loss (20 ml vs 12 ml, P = 0.353). There was no significant difference in the surgical outcomes. Although the incidence of Japanese D3 dissection was significantly lower in Group A (56 % vs 69.3 %, P = 0.047), the incidences of postoperative surgical complications of grade ≧ Ⅱ were similar between two groups (15.5 % vs 11.8 %, p = 0.427). The length of postoperative hospital stay was also similar (10days vs 10days, p = 0.347). Conclusions: The present study suggested that laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer is safe and feasible, regardless of the age of the patient, especially for elderly patients who may be candidates for colorectal cancer surgery.