Pancreatic Cancer and Pancreaticoduodenectomy in Elderly Patient: Morbidity and Mortality are increased. Is it the Real Life?

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to compare post-operative outcomes of two groups of patients aged more or less than 70 years old Methodology: From January 1990 to January 2006, 150 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic adenocarcinomas (PA) were reviewed at the Department of Digestive Surgery of University Hospital. Twenty five patients Group A >= 70 and Group B < 70 years old, were well matched for gender, diagnosis, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, and texture of pancreatic parenchyma. Results: There was no intraoperative death. Mean operative hospital and intensive care unit stays were in Group A, B: 21 +/- 9; 4.5 +/- 8 vs. 19 +/- 7; 3 +/- 3 NS respectively. There were four deaths in A and no death in B at three months of hospital discharge. More patients had complications in Group A (56% vs 36% NS). Medical complications seem to be more frequent in Group A (40%vs 12% NS). The median survivals were 20 and 27 months for A and B, respectively. Conclusion: We observed an increased rate of morbidity and mortality in patients aged more than 70 years.