BACKGROUND: The steadily increasing age of the population mandates that potential benefits of new techniques and technologies be considered for older patients. AIM: To analyze the short-term outcomes of laparoscopic (LAP) colorectal surgery in elderly compared to younger patients, and to patients who underwent laparotomy (OP). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent elective sigmoid colectomies for diverticular disease or ileo-colic resections for benign disorders; patients with stomas were excluded. There were two groups: age < 65 years (A) and age >or= 65 years (B). Parameters included demographics, body mass index (BMI), length of operation (LO), incision length (LI), length of hospitalization (LOS), morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: 641 patients (M/F - 292/349) were included between July 1991 and June 2006; 407 in group A and 234 in group B. There were significantly more LAP procedures in group A (244/407 - 60%) than in group B (106/234 - 45%) - p = 0.0003. Conversion rates were similar: 61/244 (25%) in group A, and 25/106 (24%) in group B (p = 0.78). There was no difference in LO between the groups in any type of operation. LOS was shorter in patients in group A who underwent OP: 7.1 (3-17) days versus 8.7 (4-22) days in group B (p <0.0001), and LAP: 5.3 (2-19) days versus 6.4 (2-34) days in group B (p = 0.01). In both groups LOS in the LAP group was significantly shorter than in OP group. There were no significant differences in major complications or mortality between the two groups; however, the complication rates in the OP groups were significantly higher than in LAP and CON combined (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients who undergo LAP have a significantly shorter LOS and fewer complications compared to elderly patients who undergo OP. Laparoscopy should be considered in all patients in whom ileo-colic or sigmoid resection is planned regardless of age.
BACKGROUND: The steadily increasing age of the population mandates that potential benefits of new techniques and technologies be considered for older patients. AIM: To analyze the short-term outcomes of laparoscopic (LAP) colorectal surgery in elderly compared to younger patients, and to patients who underwent laparotomy (OP). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent elective sigmoid colectomies for diverticular disease or ileo-colic resections for benign disorders; patients with stomas were excluded. There were two groups: age < 65 years (A) and age >or= 65 years (B). Parameters included demographics, body mass index (BMI), length of operation (LO), incision length (LI), length of hospitalization (LOS), morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: 641 patients (M/F - 292/349) were included between July 1991 and June 2006; 407 in group A and 234 in group B. There were significantly more LAP procedures in group A (244/407 - 60%) than in group B (106/234 - 45%) - p = 0.0003. Conversion rates were similar: 61/244 (25%) in group A, and 25/106 (24%) in group B (p = 0.78). There was no difference in LO between the groups in any type of operation. LOS was shorter in patients in group A who underwent OP: 7.1 (3-17) days versus 8.7 (4-22) days in group B (p <0.0001), and LAP: 5.3 (2-19) days versus 6.4 (2-34) days in group B (p = 0.01). In both groups LOS in the LAP group was significantly shorter than in OP group. There were no significant differences in major complications or mortality between the two groups; however, the complication rates in the OP groups were significantly higher than in LAP and CON combined (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients who undergo LAP have a significantly shorter LOS and fewer complications compared to elderly patients who undergo OP. Laparoscopy should be considered in all patients in whom ileo-colic or sigmoid resection is planned regardless of age.
Authors: H H Chen; S D Wexner; E G Weiss; J J Nogueras; O Alabaz; A J Iroatulam; A Nessim; J S Joo Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 1998-12 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Heidi Nelson; Daniel J Sargent; H Sam Wieand; James Fleshman; Mehran Anvari; Steven J Stryker; Robert W Beart; Michael Hellinger; Richard Flanagan; Walter Peters; David Ota Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2004-05-13 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Rodrigo A Pinto; Dan Ruiz; Yair Edden; Eric G Weiss; Juan J Nogueras; Steven D Wexner Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2011-04-13 Impact factor: 4.584