Laparoscopic surgery as a treatment option for elderly patients with colon cancer

With the increase in life expectancy, the use of laparoscopic surgery in elderly patients with colon cancer is gaining interest. The aim of this study was to identify the impact of laparoscopic surgery on elderly patients with colon cancer in comparison with open surgery. In addition, we evaluated the role of surgery in elderly patients with colon cancer by assessing long-term outcomes.

We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of 203 colon cancer patients aged ≥75 years who underwent radical surgery by either laparoscopy or open surgery from January 2009 to January 2015. Patient characteristics, short-term outcomes, and follow-up data were compared. Radical laparoscopic surgery was performed in 109 patients and 94 patients underwent open surgery.

Laparoscopic surgery was accompanied with significantly less blood loss, lower analgesic consumption, shorter time to first flatus and soft diet, and shorter postoperative hospital stay compared with open surgery. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were similar between the two groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that OS and DFS were influenced only by TNM stage.

Laparoscopic surgery in older patients for colon cancer can be safely performed and maintains the advantage of being minimally invasive.