Surgical management and outcomes of obstructive colorectal cancer in elderly patients: A multi-institutional...

The outcomes and prognostic factors of elderly patients with obstructive colorectal cancer are unknown. This was the focus of our multi-institutional retrospective study.

Medical records of 520 patients (elderly [group E, aged ≥75 years, n = 271]; and nonelderly [group NE, aged <75 years, n = 249]) who received treatment for obstructive colorectal cancer in 2008 to 2018 at 14 leading hospitals in Kagawa prefecture (Japan) were reviewed. Short- and long-term outcomes of patients who underwent tumor resection (n = 438) were compared between the groups. Their prognostic factors were identified.

The tumor resection rate was 79% (n = 213) and 90% (n = 225) in groups E and NE, respectively. Group E had more emergency resections (27 [12.7%] vs 15 [6.6%], P = .037), shorter operating times (194 vs 221 min, P < .001), fewer dissected lymph nodes (14 vs 17, P = .004), and less adjuvant chemotherapy (47 [26.8%] vs 122 [76.7%], p < .001) than group NE. Postoperative complication rates and recurrence-free survival were not significantly different between the groups. Overall survival was significantly lower in group E than in group NE. Distant metastases and no postoperative chemotherapy were independent poor prognostic factors for overall survival in groups E and NE. Emergency resection (hazard ratio:1.83; 95% confidence interval: 1.02-3.26) was a significant poor prognostic indicator in group E only.

The short-term outcomes and recurrence-free survival of elderly and nonelderly patients with obstructive colorectal cancer were similar, although the 90-day mortality rate of the elderly patients was higher. Furthermore, elective surgery after bowel decompression is associated with a better outcome in the elderly.