Risk factors for operative complications in elderly patients during laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the feasibility of laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy in elderly patients with gastric cancer.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a retrospective analysis of 632 patients who underwent laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy from May 2003 to December 2007 at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. Postoperative complication rates were compared between patients older and younger than 70 years of age.

RESULTS

Of the 632 patients, 515 (81.5%) were younger than 70 years and 117 (18.5%) were aged 70 years or older. Significant differences in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and hypertension were observed in patients older than 70 years (p < 0.05). Although the overall complication rates of the patients younger and older than 70 years were 12.6% and 17.9%, respectively, there was no statistically significant difference between groups (p=0.12). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that comorbidities with hypertension or with liver cirrhosis were the only variables that correlated independently with postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Complications after laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy for patients older than 70 years of age with gastric cancer were similar to those of younger patients. But a careful approach is required when patients older than 70 years of age have hypertension or liver cirrhosis.