A comparative study of perioperative and survival outcomes of robot-assisted radical cystectomy in patients over 80 and under 80 years old

Background Radical cystectomy (RC) is the standard treatment for bladder cancer, but the safety and efficacy of this treatment for elderly people need to be considered. We compare perioperative data and survival outcomes between elderly (≥80 years) and younger (<80 years) patients undergoing robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). Methods We reviewed demographic, perioperative clinical and follow-up data of 190 consecutive patients with urothelial carcinoma of bladder who received RARC from May 2015 to December 2018 in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. The patients were divided into 2 groups by age: ≥80 years and <80 years. Perioperative outcomes were compared between 2 groups. Logistic regression method was used to analyze the factors that may affect preoperative complications. Cox regression model was employed to analyze the factors affecting 3-year overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Results Of the 190 patients, 44 (23.2%) were octogenarians. The elderly patients did not statistically differ from younger patients in most of the demographic, perioperative, and pathological information. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score (p=0.045) and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) (p=0.035) could predict high-grade and any grade complications, respectively. Positive lymph node and pT≥3 were main factors affecting OS, RFS, and CSS. ASA score (p=0.048) and CCI (p=0.003) could predict OS and RFS, respectively. Elderly group had worse OS (p=0.007) and CSS (p=0.027) but similar RFS (p=0.147) compared with younger group. Conclusion The elderly who received RARC had similar risk of perioperative complications and RFS compared with younger patients. RARC could be an alternative treatment for selected octogenarians.