BACKGROUND:
We conducted a prospective case-matched study to compare outcomes of laparoscopic colorectal surgery in elderly (Ն 70 years) and younger (Ͻ 70 years) patients. STUDY DESIGN: Among 506 consecutive patients who underwent 536 colorectal resections supervised by 1 colorectal surgeon (YP), 75 elderly patients (Ն 70 years)were matched with 103 younger patients (Ͻ 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 Ͻ 0.001). Mean operating times were similar between elderly and young patients (244 Ϯ 89 minutes versus 242 Ϯ 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 Ϯ 8 days versus 10 Ϯ 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. (