Background/aim: Although laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy (LAG) is widely used for the treatment of gastric cancer, its safety and feasibility for elderly patients remains controversial. We herein examined the impact of age on the early surgical outcomes of LAG with suprapancreatic nodal dissection for elderly patients with clinical stage I gastric cancer.
Patients and methods: This retrospective study included 292 patients undergoing LAG with suprapancreatic nodal dissection for clinical stage I gastric cancer. We divided patients into an elderly group (age ≥ 75 years; n=55) and non-elderly group (age <75 years; n=237). Preoperative conditions, operative findings and postoperative outcomes, including complications, were compared between these two groups.
Results: The elderly group had a higher incidence of co-morbidities (61.8%) and lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (74.8%). Preoperative levels of hemoglobin (Hb) and serum albumin (Alb), as well as the total lymphocyte count (TLC) were lower in the elderly group (p<0.001, <0.001 and =0.018, respectively). No significant differences were observed in intraoperative findings between the two groups. The incidence of overall and surgical complications in the elderly group (21.8% and 14.5%, respectively) did not significantly differ from those in the non-elderly group. The frequency of non-surgical complications in the elderly group (9.1%) was significantly higher (p =0.018), whereas no critical complications or mortality were observed. No significant differences were noted in the severity of complications or hospital courses between the groups.
Conclusion: LAG with suprapancreatic nodal dissection appears to be safe and feasible for elderly patients with clinical stage I gastric cancer.
Keywords: Gastric cancer; elderly patients; gastrectomy; laparoscopic surgery; laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy.
Copyright© 2015 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.