Short-Term Postoperative Outcomes after Resective Colorectal Surgery in Elderly vs. Nonelderly Patients: A Single Centre Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Life expectancy for people in their 60s is 24.3 years in high-income countries. Health systems face the burden of disease in the elderly population and must assess the impact of treatments such as major surgery. The aim of this study is to quantify the impact of advanced age on short-term postoperative outcomes after resective colorectal surgery (RCRS). Methods: All patients who underwent RCRS at our institution between July 2022 and November 2023 were entered into a database. Preoperative, perioperative, and early (within 30 days) postoperative data were recorded. Patients were categorized into a young group (under 75 years, YG) and an elderly group (over 75 years, EG). A retrospective comparative analysis of postoperative outcomes was performed between the two groups; postoperative complications were graded according to the Clavien classification. Results: Fifty-three and ninety-five patients were in the EG and YG, respectively. Indications for RCRS was cancer in 83% of EG patients and 61.1% of YG patients (p = 0.006), and the clinical presentation, localization, and rate of neoadjuvant treatment in oncological patients were comparable. Another indication for RCRS was complicated diverticular disease (17% of EG patients and 38.9% of YG patients; p = 0.006). With respect to the baseline characteristics, the ASA and CCI scores were worse in the EG (p = 0.001). No significant differences in the surgical approach, mini-invasive approach, conversion rate, definitive stoma creation, or number of harvested lymph nodes were found between the two groups. Overall, EG reported a higher relative risk (RR) of short-term postoperative complications (1.64, CI: 1.03–2.63), but no significant differences were found in terms of grade ≥3 complications (RR: 0.9, CI: 0.23–3.44). In the EG, a higher risk of ICU admission (RR:2.69, CI: 1.5–4.8) and a one-day longer postoperative hospital stay (6 vs. 5 days) were reported. Conclusions: Advanced age does not seem to contraindicate RCRS, especially in colorectal cancer patients. The impact of elderly age on short-term outcomes seems to be minimal and acceptable.