[Characteristics and management of perioperative complications in laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer patients aged over 85 years].

Objective

To analyze the types and characteristics of post-operative complications in colorectal cancer patients aged over 85 years undergoing laparoscopic surgery, and to summarize peri-operative management strategies.

Methods

This was an observational study. Inclusion criteria: pathologically confirmed adenocarcinoma; tumor located in ileocecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, or rectum; undergoing laparoscopic radical resection for colorectal cancer; complete clinical data. Exclusion criteria included distant metastasis, synchronous resection of multiple primary cancers, simultaneous liver metastasis surgery, and follow-up duration <1 month. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 191 patients of colorectal cancer patients aged over 85 years who underwent laparoscopic radical surgery in the General Surgery Department at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2019 to January 2024. Among 191 patients, 107 patients (56.0%) had colon cancer and 84 (44.0%) rectal cancer. All patients received "home-based prehabilitation" and post-operative "enhanced recovery after surgery" protocols. Patient characteristics, peri-operative complication types, treatments, and outcomes were analyzed.

Results

Post-operative complications occurred in 97 patients (50.8%), including 53 colon cancer patients (54.6%) and 44 rectal cancer patients (45.4%). Comorbidities existed in 88 patients (90.7%), with 93 patients (95.9%) classified as ASA II-III pre-operatively and 86 (88.7%) having nutritional risks. Surgical procedures included Dixon procedure (38 patients, 39.2%), right hemicolectomy (33 patients, 34.0%), sigmoidectomy (10 patients, 10.3%), and 17 patients (17.5%) received prophylactic stomas. Complication types comprised non-anastomotic infections (38 patients, 19.9%), intestinal flora disorder (26 patients, 13.6%), anastomotic/wound/stoma-related complications (16 patients, 8.4%), thrombotic/hemorrhagic events (6 patients, 3.1%), and others (11 patients, 5.8%). By Clavien-Dindo classification: Grade I (12 patients, 6.3%), Grade II (69 patients, 36.1%), Grade III (12 patients, 6.3%), and Grade IV (4 patients, 2.1%). Except for 5 patients (2.6%) requiring unplanned re-operation, all complications resolved with conservative treatment. The median duration of post-operative hospitalization was 9.5 days (7-13).

Conclusion

Non-anastomotic infections and intestinal flora disorder constitute predominant complications after laparoscopic surgery in colorectal cancer patients aged over 85 years, mostly manageable with conservative treatment. Strengthened peri-operative management incorporating pre-operative prehabilitation and post-operative enhanced recovery after surgery protocols is crucial for patients aged over 85 years.