title: [Laparoscopy-assisted combined radical resection for synchronous rectal and gastric cancer in elderly patients: report of two cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopy-assisted combined radical resection for synchronous rectal and gastric cancer in elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data of two elderly patients undergoing laparoscopy-assisted combined radical resection for synchronous rectal and gastric cancer were analyzed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two cases were 78 and 75 years old respectively. Both were complicated with many medical conditions. One case suffered from stage II cancer in the gastric body and stage IB rectal cancer, and the other suffered from stage IIIA gastric cancer and stage IB rectal cancer. Both cases had received laparoscopy-assisted combined radical resection for synchronous rectal and gastric cancer, with 5 cm of incision. The operative time was 260 and 255 min and the intraoperative bleeding was 60 and 80 ml respectively. No complication occurred intraoperatively. Time to resume oral intake was 4 and 5 days and length of postoperative hospital stay was 13 and 14 days respectively. No postoperative complication occurred. The patients were followed up for 13 and 12 months and no postoperative recurrence or metastasis was noticed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopy-assisted combined radical resection for elderly synchronous rectal and gastric cancer is safe and feasible when performed by surgeons with plentiful experience in laparoscopic technology, and associated with less injury and faster recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jia-feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Hong-bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Tu-feng
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Zong-heng
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jiang-long
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hao-zhong
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome