title: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery in elderly patients: a matched case-control study in 178 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We conducted a prospective case-matched study to compare outcomes of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in elderly (>or= 70 years) and younger (< 70 years) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 506 consecutive patients who underwent 536 colorectal resections supervised by 1 colorectal surgeon (YP), 75 elderly patients (>or= 70 years)were matched with 103 younger patients (< 70 years), according to gender, body mass index, pathology, and surgical procedure. Postoperative mortality and morbidity were defined as in-hospital deaths and complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred seventy-eight patients (95 men and 83 women) underwent laparoscopic colorectal resection for colorectal carcinoma (40%) or benign diseases (60%). Laparoscopic surgical procedures included left colectomy (43%), rectal resection (34%), right colectomy (12%), subtotal colectomy (6%), and rectopexy (5%). Cardiopulmonary comorbidities were significantly more frequent in elderly compared with young patients (80% versus 33%, p < 0.001). Mean operating times were similar between elderly and young patients (244+/-89 minutes versus 242+/-80 minutes, NS). Thirty-two patients (18%, 16 in each group) required conversion to laparotomy. There was no mortality. Overall postoperative complications were comparable between groups (32% versus 26%, NS). Sixteen patients (9%, 5 elderly and 11 young) required reoperation. Mean hospital stay was comparable between groups (11+/-8 days versus 10+/-9 days, NS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This large case-matched study suggested that laparoscopic colorectal surgery may be proposed in elderly patients, with similar postoperative outcomes as this surgery has in young patients, despite significantly more frequent cardiorespiratory comorbidities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Pôle des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif, Beaujon Hospital (AP-HP), Clichy, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chautard
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zalinski
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bretagnol
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valleur
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Panis
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003082:Colectomy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome