Surgical outcomes for colorectal cancer patients including the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the short- and long-term outcome of older and younger colorectal cancer patients resected for cure.


METHODS
Three hundred and forty-six consecutive colorectal cancer patients who underwent some form of surgery were analyzed. One hundred and forty-four patients were < 65 years old (group 1), 151 patients were 65-79 years old (group 2), and 51 patients were 80 years or more (group 3).


RESULTS
The overall perioperative mortality rate was 1.7% (n = 6). The median length of hospital stay was 19 days (range: 3-86 days). By univariate analysis, intraoperative bleeding (500 mL or more) (P = 0.009), duration of operations (240 min or more) (P = 0.03), and the presence of rectal cancer (P = 0.001), were strongly associated with higher incidence of postoperative complications. In multiple logistic regression analysis, only rectal cancer (P = 0.02) was significantly associated with serious postoperative complications. No age-related difference was noted concerning 5-year cancer-specific survival rates for patients with < 65, 65-79, and > or = 80 years who underwent surgery for cure (85%, 76%, and 69%, respectively) (P = 0.3). Using logistic regression analysis, tumor stage (P = 0.0001) and perioperative blood transfusions (500 mL or more) (P = 0.05) were strongly associated with outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Colorectal curative surgery for malignancy can be performed safely in the elderly with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates and long-term survival.
Chiappa
A
A
Department of Emergency Surgery, Surgical Oncology, University of Milan, S. Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. antonio.chiappa@unimi.it
Zbar
A P
AP
Bertani
E
E
Biella
F
F
Audisio
R A
RA
Staudacher
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003082:Colectomy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome