Abstract
From January 1976 to June 1986, 154 patients (75 men and 79 women) who were 75 years of age or older were admitted for the surgical treatment of a colonic cancer. The mean age was 80.7 years. Patients were divided into two groups: 66 patients, between 75 and 80 years of age, were in Group I; 88 patients, 80 years of age and older, were in Group II. One hundred and forty-three patients (93%) were operated on and a resection was carried out in 125 patients (87%). The overall post-operative mortality rate was 12% (Group I: 5%; Group II: 17%; p<0.02). The actuarial survival rate of patients operated on was 32±8% at 3 years and 26±8% at 5 years (Group I: 37%; Group II: 17%). In both groups the survival rate was closely related to the extent of the disease according to Dukes classification. These results suggest that in the 75–80 year group age alone should no longer be considered a major risk factor for immediate surgical outcome. In patients aged 80 and older, the results are worse but it is not advanced age per se which influences mortality, rather the physiologic status of the patient.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kragelund E, Balslev I, Bardram L, Jensen HE, Nielsen J (1974) Resectability, operative mortality and survival of patients in old age with carcinoma of the colon and rectum. Dis. Colon Rectum 17:617–621
Boyd JB, Bradford B, Watne AL (1980) Operative risk factors of colon resection in the elderly. Ann Surg 192:743–746
Faivre J, Gouget N, Martin F, Michiels R, Cabanne F, Klepping C (1979) Incidence des cancers colorectaux dans une population bien définie de 450 000 habitants. Gastroenterol Clin Biol 3:820–825
Payne JE, Chapuis PH, Pheils MT (1986) Surgery for large bowel cancer in people aged 75 years and older. Dis Colon Rectum 29:733–737
Bader TF (1986) Colorectal cancer in patients older than 75 years of age. Dis Colon Rectum 29:728–732
Calabrese CT, Adam YG, Volk H (1973) Geriatric colon cancer. Am J Surg 125:181–184
Chapuis PH, Dent OF, Fisher R, Newland RC, Pheils MT, Smyth E, Colquhoun K (1985) A multivariate analysis of clinical and pathological variables in prognosis after resection of large bowel cancer. Br J Surg 72:698–702
De Calan L, Ozoux JP, Brizon J (1983) Les cancers du colon. Résultats du traitement chirurgical. Gastroenterol Clin Biol 7:802–807
Peloquin A (1972) Cancer du colon et du rectum. Etude de 1228 cas. Ann Chir (Paris) 26:1189–1197
Jensen HE, Nielsen J, Balslev I (1970) Carcinoma of the colon in old age. Ann Surg 171:107–115
Adam YG, Calabrese C, Volk H (1972) Colorectal cancer in patients over 80 years of age. Surg Clin North Am 52:883–889
Cohen JR, Theile DE, Holt J, Davis NC (1978) Carcinoma of the large bowel in patients aged 70 years and over. Aust. NZ J Surg 48:405–408
Slater G, Papatestas A, Tartter PI, Mulvihill M, Aufses AH (1982) Age distribution of right and left sided colorectal cancers. Am J Gastroenterol 77:63–66
Waldron RP, Donovan IA, Drumm J, Mottram SN, Tedman S (1986) Emergency presentation and mortality from colorectal cancer in the elderly. Br J Surg 73:214–216
Evans JT, Vana J, Aronoff BL, Baker HW, Murphy GP (1978) Management and survival of carcinoma of the colon: results of a National Survey by the American College of Surgeons. Ann Surg 188:716–720
Gardner B, Dotan J, Shaikh L, Feldman J, Herbsman H, Alfonso A, Iyer SK (1981) The influence of age upon the survival of adult patients with carcinoma of the colon. Surg Gynecol Obstet 153:366–368
Moreaux J, Catala M (1985) Les cancers coliques. Résultats du traitement chirurgical et pronostic. Cinq cent soixante dix neuf observations. Nouv Presse Med 14:463–466
Irvin GL, Robinson DS, Hubbard S (1985) Operative risks in patients with colorectal cancer. Am Surg 51:418–422
Wilder RJ, Fishbein R (1961) Operative experience with patients over 80 years of age. Surg Gynecol Obstet 113:205–212
Hobler KE (1986) Colon surgery for cancer in the very elderly. Ann Surg 203:129–131
Reiss R, Deutsch AA, Eliashiv A (1983) Decision-making process in abdominal surgery in the geriatric patient. World J Surg 7:522–526
Wied U, Nilsson T, Knudsen JB, Sprechler M, Johansen A (1985) Post operative survival of patients with potentially curable cancer of the colon. Dis Colon Rectum 28:333–335
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ozoux, J.P., de Calan, L., Perrier, M. et al. Surgery for carcinoma of the colon in people aged 75 years and older. Int J Colorect Dis 5, 25–30 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496146
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496146