| Theme | Gastrointestinal Disease in the Elderly Focusing on Minimally Invasive Therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Laparoscopic Colectomy for Elderly Patients with Colorectal Cancer | |
| Publish Date | 2007/12 | |
| Author | Atsushi Ihara | Department of Surgery, School of Medicine Kitasato University |
| Author | Masahiko Watanabe | Department of Surgery, School of Medicine Kitasato University |
| [ Summary ] | Elderly patients over 70 with colorectal cancer (CRC) comprise 33 % of the total CRC cases. These cases are expected to increase in number in the near future. In general, such elderly patients have unsatisfactory of vital organ functions, accompanied by various preoperative complications. Such patients are therefore often compromised hosts and unable to ward off infections. Laparoscopic colectomy for CRC patients is characterized by early recovery of intestinal peristalsis, early initation of oral food intake, and lack of postoperative pain resulting in shortened hospital stays. It also facilitates procedures with relatively smaller volumes of blood loss, modest respiratory dysfunction, and low risk of infection as compared to conventional laparotomy for CRC. These less invasive traits of laparoscopic surgery are desirable for elderly patients with CRC. | |