Risk Factors for Postoperative Complications in Elderly After Colorectal Cancer Resection

This study aimed to assess perioperative morbidity and mortality in elderly patients following colorectal cancer resection and to investigate risk factors for postoperative complications. This study reviewed 697 consecutive patients who underwent elective colorectal cancer resection between 2005 and 2013 at our institution. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to their age: <= 74 (n = 420), 75 to 89 (n = 261), and >= 90 years (n = 16). Clinical findings, morbidity, and mortality were compared among these groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed with clinically relevant variables for the complications that increased with aging. Postoperative delirium and pneumonia showed significant increases with aging. There were no significant differences in mortality and morbidity among the 3 groups, except for the 2 aforementioned diseases. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that dementia and laparoscopic surgery were independent determinants of postoperative delirium and that age and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score were independent risk factors for postoperative pneumonia. Dementia, high ASA score, and age were the risk factors for higher postoperative morbidity in elderly patients. Our results demonstrated the effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery for the prevention of postoperative delirium after colorectal resection.