Emergency surgery for patients with colorectal cancer over 90 years of age.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colorectal cancer has an extremely poor prognosis in the elderly with high rates of emergency presentation and perioperative mortality. This report examines our experience and results in the emergency treatment of patients older than 90 years with colorectal cancer.

METHODOLOGY

From 1995 to 2000, 486 patients with colorectal cancer were operated on in an emergency surgery situation at the Department of Emergency Surgery of Sant'Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital. A retrospective analysis of 20 patients aged 90 or older was carried out.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients underwent resection of the primary growth and anastomosis and 7 subjects with carcinomatosis had palliative intervention by creating a stoma only or bypass anastomosis without resection. We registered two deaths caused by respiratory insufficiency and 2 postoperative complications successfully treated with medical therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Emergency surgery for colorectal cancer in patients over 90 years of age can be performed safely without restrictions related to the age.