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Safety and feasibility of robotic surgery for old rectal cancer patients

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Abstract

Robotic surgery is widely utilized for rectal cancer. Older patients are associated with comorbidity and diminished cardiopulmonary reserve, resulting in uncertainty and reluctance to perform robotic surgery in older patients. The aim of the study was to assess the safety and feasibility of robotic surgery in older rectal cancer patients. We collected the data of patients diagnosed with rectal cancer and operated at our hospital from May 2015 to January 2021. All patients undergoing robotic surgery were classified into two groups: the old group (≥ 70 years) and young group (< 70 years). Perioperative outcomes were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Risk factors related to postoperative complications were also explored. A total of old N = 114 and young N = 324 rectal patients were enrolled in our study. Older patients were prone to exhibit comorbidity than the young and had lower body mass index and higher scores of American Society of Anesthesiologists than the young. No statistical difference was found in operative time, estimated blood loss, lymph nodes retrieved, tumor size, pathological TNM stage, hospital stay after surgery and total hospital cost between the two groups. The incidence of postoperative complications did not show difference between the two groups. On multivariate analyses, male sex and longer operative time could predict postoperative complications, whereas old age was not an independent factor for postoperative complications. After careful preoperative evaluation, robotic surgery is a technically feasible and safe procedure for older rectal cancer patients.

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Data availability

All data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

No funding was received for conducting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China

    Yaxiong Liu, Gengmei Gao, Yahang Liang, Tao Li & Taiyuan Li

  2. Department of Graduate School, Medical College of Nanchang University, No. 461 Bayi Avenue, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China

    Yaxiong Liu, Gengmei Gao, Yahang Liang & Tao Li

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  1. Yaxiong Liu
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Correspondence to Taiyuan Li.

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This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University.

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Liu, Y., Gao, G., Liang, Y. et al. Safety and feasibility of robotic surgery for old rectal cancer patients. Updates Surg 75, 1161–1169 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13304-023-01504-9

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