title: [Feasibility of complete mesocolic excision in elderly patients with colon cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the short-term outcomes and safety of complete mesocolic excision (CME) in elderly patients with colon cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical pathological factors of 71 patients with colon cancer undergoing CME procedure by the same group of surgeons were analyzed retrospectively from November 2009 to February 2012. The elderly group(≥70 years) and the non-elderly group(<70 years) were compared regarding short-term outcomes and safety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Similar extent of resection could be achieved in the elderly and non-elderly groups in terms of area of mesentery[(13 049±4332) vs. (13 163±4725) mm2, P=0.916], distance between the tumor and the high ligation site[(95±22) vs. (98±20) mm, P=0.516], distance between normal bowel and high ligation site [(130±25) vs. (128±25) mm, P=0.731], the length of colon [(262±60) vs. (245±49) mm, P=0.212], and lymph nodes retrieved(22.0±6.4 vs. 24.8±9.9, P=0.168). The mean operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, time to first flatus, time to first bowel movement, drainage removal time, diet resumption, drainage volume in three days after surgery, and hospital deaths showed no statistical significances(all P>0.05), while hospital stay and expenses of the elderly group were significantly increased(both P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly patients undergoing elective CME operation can achieve similar operative extent and lymph nodes harvest, and the surgical risk is not increased.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-dong
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Ying-jiang
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Xiao-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Mu-jun
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Ke-wei
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Qi-wei
authors.initials: QW
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: You-li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhan-long
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003082:Colectomy; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008198:Lymph Nodes; D008643:Mesentery; D008646:Mesocolon / Q000601:surgery*; D061646:Operative Time; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies