title: Laparoscopy for sigmoid colon and rectal cancers in septuagenarians: a retrospective, comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study is to analyze the results of laparoscopy in septuagenarians with sigmoid colon or rectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who underwent laparoscopic or hand-assisted laparoscopic sigmoid or rectal resections for cancer were retrospectively selected from the database of our institution. The study group (Lap > 70 group), contained the cancer patients over 70 years old who were treated with laparoscopy. Patients less than 70 years old who underwent a laparoscopic procedure (Lap < 70 group), and those over than 70 years old who underwent conventional surgery (Open > 70 group), were assigned to control groups. Demographics, information regarding tumors, perioperative data, pathological results, and survival in the three groups were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 56, 166, and 34 patients in the Lap > 70, Lap < 70, and Open > 70 groups, respectively. Patients in the Lap > 70 group were significantly older than other groups. The American Society of Anesthesiologists scores were higher, and the presence of the studied risk factors was more common in the Lap > 70 group than the Lap < 70 group. Intraoperative bleeding and the amount and number of perioperative transfusions required were less in the Lap > 70 group than in the Open > 70 group. The number of harvested lymph nodes was less in the Lap > 70 group than both study groups. Five-year survival in the Lap > 70 group was similar to that in the Lap < 70 group and significantly better than in the Open > 70 group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopy for sigmoid colon and rectal cancer in patients over 70 may be feasible and safe as it is in younger patients. The present study has revealed that laparoscopy in the elderly may be superior to conventional techniques as regards some intraoperative findings and survival.
authors.affiliation: Kartal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Genel Cerrahi Kliniği, Kartal, 34860, Istanbul, Turkey. yunusemrealtuntas@ymail.com
authors.forename: Y E
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Altuntas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gezen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vural
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okkabaz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kement
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oncel
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D001810:Blood Volume; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012811:Sigmoid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome