title: Laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer in elderly patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aging of the population and a longer life expectancy have led to an increased number of elderly patients presenting with colorectal cancer and searching for treatment. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of age on the outcome of laparoscopic colorectal surgery for cancer at a single department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Perioperative outcome of patients > or =75 years old undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery between June 2005 and January 2009 for colorectal cancer were compared with findings in younger patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis considered 134 patients <75 years and 82 patients > or =75 years of age. There was a significant difference in perioperative risk factors, as reflected by different ASA scores and a significantly higher postoperative 'medical' morbidity, but 'surgical' morbidity was similar in the two groups and remained low.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical morbidity rate was not affected by age. Cardiovascular and pulmonary comorbid conditions were mainly responsible for the higher morbidity rate reported in the elderly patients, although advanced age, per se, should not be considered a contraindication to laparoscopic colorectal surgery for cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery Azienda ULSS 15 Alta Padovana, Cittadella, Padova, Italy. valentino.fiscon@virgilio.it
authors.forename: Valentino
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fiscon
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Portale
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Migliorini
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frigo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome