Elderly Patients with Colorectal Cancer - A Predisposed Category for Postoperative Complications

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths around the world. Elderly patients are often considered as a high-risk category of patients, predisposed for postoperative complications. Materials and methods: 138 patients aged over 75 years and diagnosed with colorectal cancer were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided in two groups, as follows: Study Group including patients who developed postoperative complications, and Control Group including patients without problems in the postoperative period. There were compared clinical, preoperative, surgical, postoperative and oncological data. The aim of study was to determine possible risk factors for short-term postoperative complications and analyze of the influence of postoperative complications on survival. Results: Risk factors as male gender, obesity, heart failure, diabetes type II, severe anemia, low total protein level, ASA III-IV classification, emergency surgery, prolonged surgical intervention, increased intraoperative blood loss, prolonged hospital stay, distal localization of tumors, TNM stages III-IV, surgery for digestive cancer and non-cancerous major abdominal surgery in the medical history were identified. Conclusion: The surgical treatment of colorectal cancer in the aging population still remains a challenge, these category of patients should benefit of special attention in order to ensure a chance to minimize or avoid these complications.