Emiko Takeshita, MD, Yoshihisa Saida, MD, Toshiyuki Enomoto, Kazuhiro Takabayashi, Sayaka Nagao, Yoichi Nakamura, MD, Ryohei Watanabe, MD, Yasushi Nagaoka, MD, Natsuya Katada, MD, Manabu Watanabe, MD, Koji Asai, MD, Shinya Kusachi, MD. Department of Surgery, Toho University Ohashi Medical Center
Purpose: The aim of the present study was to assess the validity of laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer in younger, middle and elderly patients.
Patients and Methods: The subjects selected for this study were a total of 273 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with primary colon cancer and those who underwent laparoscopic surgery between January 2000 and December 2010 at our hospital. We retrospectively analyzed and compared the preoperative clinicopathological features of the three different age groups: group A (32- 69years); group B (70- 79years)and group C (80- 90years).
Results: Therewere134 patients in group A, 98 patients in group B and 41 patients in group C. The comorbidity of group A was 38%, group B was 53% and group C was 63% (P<0.01).
The operation time of group A was 197.6±6.4 minutes, group B; 202.5±6.99 minutes and group C; 182.7±10.8 minutes (N.S.). The average blood loss of group A was 66.2ml, group B; 53.5 ml and group C; 55.1 ml (N.S.). The average postoperative days for oral intake in group A was 3.2 days, group B; 3.1days and group C; 3.0 days. The rate of overall incidence of postoperative complication after laparoscopic surgery in group A was 17%, group B; 14% and group C; 17% (N.S.). The average hospital stay of group A was 11.6 days, group B; 10.3 days and group C; 11.1 days (N.S.). Early postoperative mortality was null. Among the three age groups, there were no statistically significant findings in gender, Dukes stage and the grade lymph node dissection.
Conclusions: These results suggest the efficacy of laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer in elderly patients in their 70s and 80s as well as in middle and younger patients.