Elinor Tan1, Jialu Song2, Susanna Lam3, Mario D'Souza4, Michael Crawford5, Charbel Sandroussi6. 1. Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 50 Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia; Surgical Outcomes Research Centre (SOuRCe), The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, 2006, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, 2006, Australia. Electronic address: tanyilin@gmail.com. 2. Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, 2006, Australia. 3. Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 50 Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia; Surgical Outcomes Research Centre (SOuRCe), The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, 2006, Australia. 4. Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, 2006, Australia; Sydney Local Health District Clinical Research Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 50 Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia. 5. Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 50 Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia. 6. Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 50 Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia; Surgical Outcomes Research Centre (SOuRCe), The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, 2006, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, 2006, Australia; RPA Institute of Academic Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 145-147 Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer is a disease of the elderly. Surgical resection is usually offered to patients in early stage disease; however, pancreatic resection in the elderly is controversial. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library, were searched for studies comparing short- and long-term outcomes of elderly (above the age of 70) with non-elderly patients (below the age of 70) following pancreatic resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma over the period from the inception of electronic database to 2017. Twelve articles documenting 4860 patients were included. A meta-analysis of data on patient characteristics, operative techniques, and perioperative outcomes were analysed. Our primary endpoint was postoperative mortality, defined as 30-day mortality or in-hospitalisation mortality. RESULTS: There were 919 patients in the elderly group and 3941 patients in the non-elderly group. Elderly patients had worse ASA scores (p < 0.001) and more cardiovascular comorbidities (p = 0.002). Tumour size, T-stage, N-stage and tumour grade were similar between the elderly and non-elderly group (p > 0.05). Fewer elderly patients received a concomitant venous resection with their pancreatectomy (RR0.80, p = 0.003, I2 = 0%), achieved a negative margin status (RR0.76, p = 0.02, I2 = 28%) and underwent adjuvant chemotherapy treatment (RR0.69, p < 0.001, I2 = 42%). Overall complication (RR1.15, p < 0.001, I2 = 47%), in particular, respiratory complications (RR2.33, p = 0.004, I2 = 39%), was higher in the elderly group. There was no difference in postoperative pancreatic fistula formation, postoperative haemorrhage, intraabdominal abscess and length of hospital stay between both groups (p > 0.05). Postoperative mortality was similar between both groups (p = 0.17). Subgroup analysis according to the time of enrolment (<2000, ≥2000) showed a significant subgroup effect (Chi2 = 3.44, p = 0.06, I2 = 70.9%) and revealed that postoperative mortality in the elderly group improved over time (Before 2000: n = 1654, subtotal RR2.27, p = 0.02, I2 = 0%; From 2000 onwards: n = 3206, subtotal RR1.00, p = 0.99, I2 = 0%). CONCLUSION: Fewer elderly patients received chemotherapy and portal vein resection to achieve a clear margin. Pancreatic resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma can be performed safely on elderly patients with acceptable risks in experienced centres by specialist hepatobiliary surgeons. Age alone should not be the only determinant for the selection of patients for surgical treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
BACKGROUND:Pancreatic cancer is a disease of the elderly. Surgical resection is usually offered to patients in early stage disease; however, pancreatic resection in the elderly is controversial. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library, were searched for studies comparing short- and long-term outcomes of elderly (above the age of 70) with non-elderly patients (below the age of 70) following pancreatic resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma over the period from the inception of electronic database to 2017. Twelve articles documenting 4860 patients were included. A meta-analysis of data on patient characteristics, operative techniques, and perioperative outcomes were analysed. Our primary endpoint was postoperative mortality, defined as 30-day mortality or in-hospitalisation mortality. RESULTS: There were 919 patients in the elderly group and 3941 patients in the non-elderly group. Elderly patients had worse ASA scores (p < 0.001) and more cardiovascular comorbidities (p = 0.002). Tumour size, T-stage, N-stage and tumour grade were similar between the elderly and non-elderly group (p > 0.05). Fewer elderly patients received a concomitant venous resection with their pancreatectomy (RR0.80, p = 0.003, I2 = 0%), achieved a negative margin status (RR0.76, p = 0.02, I2 = 28%) and underwent adjuvant chemotherapy treatment (RR0.69, p < 0.001, I2 = 42%). Overall complication (RR1.15, p < 0.001, I2 = 47%), in particular, respiratory complications (RR2.33, p = 0.004, I2 = 39%), was higher in the elderly group. There was no difference in postoperative pancreatic fistula formation, postoperative haemorrhage, intraabdominal abscess and length of hospital stay between both groups (p > 0.05). Postoperative mortality was similar between both groups (p = 0.17). Subgroup analysis according to the time of enrolment (<2000, ≥2000) showed a significant subgroup effect (Chi2 = 3.44, p = 0.06, I2 = 70.9%) and revealed that postoperative mortality in the elderly group improved over time (Before 2000: n = 1654, subtotal RR2.27, p = 0.02, I2 = 0%; From 2000 onwards: n = 3206, subtotal RR1.00, p = 0.99, I2 = 0%). CONCLUSION: Fewer elderly patients received chemotherapy and portal vein resection to achieve a clear margin. Pancreatic resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma can be performed safely on elderly patients with acceptable risks in experienced centres by specialist hepatobiliary surgeons. Age alone should not be the only determinant for the selection of patients for surgical treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Authors: I Quintus Molenaar; Hjalmar C van Santvoort; Anne Claire Henry; Thijs J Schouten; Lois A Daamen; Marieke S Walma; Peter Noordzij; Geert A Cirkel; Maartje Los; Marc G Besselink; Olivier R Busch; Bert A Bonsing; Koop Bosscha; Ronald M van Dam; Sebastiaan Festen; Bas Groot Koerkamp; Erwin van der Harst; Ignace H J T de Hingh; Geert Kazemier; Mike S Liem; Vincent E de Meijer; Vincent B Nieuwenhuijs; Daphne Roos; Jennifer M J Schreinemakers; Martijn W J Stommel Journal: Ann Surg Oncol Date: 2022-06-02 Impact factor: 4.339