Short-term outcomes after laparoscopic colorectal surgery in patients over 90 years old: a Japanese multicenter study

Abstract Background The effect of laparoscopic surgery on short-term outcomes in colorectal cancer patients over 90 years old were still unknown. Methods We reviewed 87 colorectal cancer patients aged over 90 years who underwent surgery between 2016 and 2022. Patients were divided into an OP group (n = 22) that underwent open surgery and a LAP group (n = 65) that underwent laparoscopic surgery. Clinicopathological features were compared between groups. Results Seventy-eight patients (89.7%) had comorbidities. Frequency of advanced T stage was lower with laparoscopic surgery (p = 0.021). Operation time was longer (OP 146 min vs. LAP 203 min; p = 0.002) and blood loss was less (105 mL vs. 20 mL, p < 0.001) with laparoscopic surgery. Length of hospitalization was longer with open surgery (22 days vs. 18 days; p = 0.007). Frequency of infectious complications was lower with laparoscopic surgery (18.5%) than with open surgery (45.5%; p = 0.021). Multivariate analysis revealed open surgery (P = 0.026; odds ratio, 3.535; 95% confidence interval, 1.159–10.781) as an independent predictor of postoperative infectious complications. Conclusions Laparoscopic colorectal resection for patients over 90 years old is useful procedure that reduces postoperative infectious complications.