Liver resection in elderly: comparative study between younger and older than 70 years patients. Outcomes and implications for therapy.
OBJECTIVE
to identify the factors that could influence the outcome of the old aged patients underwent liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or colorectal liver metastases (LMCRC).


METHODS
the Authors identified 51 patients older 70 years-old over 12-years period underwent resection for HCC (n 26) or for LMCRC (n 25). This group was compared with a cohort of 93 patients younger than 70 years who underwent resections in the same period. We have evaluated the results in terms of peroperative morbidity and mortality.


RESULTS
the mean age of 51 elderly patients was 74 years-old. Thirty-five were treated with anatomical resection. Cirrhosis was present in 26 patients while 27 had co-morbidities. Thirteen patients developed complications and the mean age of these were 76 years compared with 73 of the patients who have not (p= .01). No mortality was registered. The cirrhosis, blood transfusions, anatomical resection and diameter of the lesion did not influence the outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
our results indicate the age per se should not be considered a contraindication for surgery, that proved to be safe and curative therapy, but showed that old age, using 75 years as a cut-off, in association with at least one comorbid medical condition could be considered as relevant factor of morbidity.
Caratozzolo
E
E
Regional Hospital Cà Foncello, Treviso, Italy.
Massani
M
M
Recordare
A
A
Bonariol
L
L
Baldessin
M
M
Bassi
N
N
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome