Australasian Laparoscopic Colon Cancer Study shows that elderly patients may benefit from lower postoperative complication rates following laparoscopic versus open resection

Abstract

Background: A retrospective analysis of age-related postoperative morbidity in the Australia and New Zealand prospective randomized controlled trial comparing laparoscopic and open resection for rightand left-sided colonic cancer is presented. Methods: A total of 592 eligible patients were entered and studied from 1998 to 2005. Results: Data from 294 patients who underwent laparoscopic and 298 who had open colonic resection were analysed; 266 patients were aged less than 70 years and 326 were 70 years or older (mean(s.d.) 70•3(11•0) years). Forty-three laparoscopic operations (14•6 per cent) were converted to an open procedure. Fewer complications were reported for intention-to-treat laparoscopic resections compared with open procedures (P = 0•002), owing primarily to a lower rate in patients aged 70 years or more (P = 0•002). Fewer patients in the laparoscopic group experienced any complication (P = 0•035), especially patients aged 70 years or above (P = 0•019). Conclusion: Treatment choices for colonic cancer depend principally upon disease-free survival; however, patients aged 70 years or over should have rigorous preoperative investigation to avoid conversion and should be considered for laparoscopic colonic resection. Registration number: NCT00202111 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov). Copyright © 2009 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.