Colorectal cancer surgery in the elderly: acceptable morbidity?

Background: Because of the increase in the geriatric population, an increasing number of elderly patients are being treated for colorectal cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate perioperative morbidity and mortality in this population.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for patients 80 years of age or older who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer (1993-2006).
Results: Ninety patients were identified, with a median age of 84 years. More than 90% presented with symptoms; the remaining were diagnosed by screening colonoscopy. Emergent surgery was required in 10%. The morbidity rate was 21% and the overall 30-day mortality rate was 1.1%. Morbidity was higher in patients who required surgery emergently.
Conclusions: Despite advanced age, the majority of patients in this study did well. Postoperative morbidity was higher than in the general population, but we believe it was acceptably low in most patients. Colorectal surgery appears to be safe in most elderly patients.