The relationship between age and the development of major complications in patients who underwent laparascopic surgery due to colon cancers

INTRODUCTION: The laparoscopic approach is preferred in colorectal cancer cases, yet concerns arise regarding the development of complications among the elderly patient population. This study aims to investigate the difference in the development of major complications between patients aged 65 and older undergoing laparoscopic procedures for colorectal cancer diagnoses and the younger patients.
METHODS: Between 2013 and 2023, records of patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery due to colorectal cancers at our center were extracted. Demographic characteristics, pathology data, complications developed during hospitalization, and lengths of stay were gathered from hospital records.
RESULTS: A total of 72 patients were included in the study, with 18 patients aged 65 and older and 54 patients aged younger than 65. When patients were evaluated based on the development of major and minor complications, all demographic and pathological characteristics were found to be similar. Only in the group of patients aged 65 and older, the length of hospital stay was found to be longer (p<0.001). In the multivariate analysis conducted, age was not found to be significant for the development of major complications (OR: 0.895 [0.246-3.264], p=0.897).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study has shown that being aged 65 or older or younger is not associated with the development of major complications in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. It has also demonstrated that laparoscopic surgical procedures can be safely used in patients aged 65 and older. Further studies with larger patient cohorts could provide more clarity on this topic.