Effectiveness of laparoscopic gastrectomy in elderly patients with locally advanced gastric cancer

INTRODUCTION: The benefits of laparoscopic gastrectomy in elderly patients with locally advanced gastric cancer remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results and feasibility of laparoscopic gastrectomy in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.
METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed that 461 consecutive patient mean survival follow-up times in elderly patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy were similar to those who underwent open gastrectomy and younger patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy those who underwent curative gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer in our institution between January 2010 and December 2020. Short-term outcomes and mean survival follow-up times were compared between the elderly – young and open – laparoscopic groups
RESULTS: Except for the length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit, all outcomes were similar in elderly patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy to those who underwent open gastrectomy. Length of stay in hospital and intensive care unit was significantly shorter in patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy. No significant difference was observed in terms of intensive care unit length of stay, total length of hospital stay, complication rates, mortality rates, and oncologic outcomes between elderly and young patients who underwent laparoscopy.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery is a feasible and safe procedure with acceptable postoperative morbidity and survival rates in elderly patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.