Laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer in octogenarians: results in a decade

This study was designed to evaluate the results of laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer in octogenarians.

Patients aged 80 years or older who underwent elective laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer from July 1, 1996 to June 30, 2006 were recruited for analysis, with the following exceptions: 1) patients who did not give informed consent; 2) unfit for operative treatment; 3) presented as surgical emergencies; 4) multiple previous abdominal operations; or 5) locally advanced tumors. Operating time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, mortality and morbidities, including anastomotic dehiscence, pulmonary and wound sepsis, disease recurrence, and patient survival were used to measure outcome.

During a ten-year period, laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection was attempted in 101 octogenarians. The median age was 83 (range, 80-95) years and 45 patients were males. The median operating time was 110 (range, 60-245) minutes, with a median blood loss of 50 (range, 0-1,000) ml. Conversion was required in only one case with a leakage rate of 3.3 percent. The overall morbidity and operative mortality rate were 17 and 3 percent, respectively. With a median follow-up of 24 (range, 0-102) months, 22 patients developed recurrence, with 8 of those still surviving. The overall five-year survival is 51 percent.

Our experience confirms that laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection in selected octogenarians is safe and feasible. Aside from the obvious short-term benefits, the long-term oncologic outcomes are favorable.