Safety and efficacy of hepatectomy for colorectal metastases in the elderly

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of hepatic metastasectomy in elderly patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM). A retrospective review of a hepatobiliary database was performed on consecutive patients treated with metastasectomy for CLM. Patients were stratified by age (P = 0.005). Postoperative morbidity and mortality were 52.5 and 0% vs. 48.2 and 4.1% in the elderly and non‐elderly groups, respectively (P = 0.56 and P = 0.21). There were no differences in median DFS (21.8 months vs. 28.9 months; P = 0.157) or OS (36 months vs. 47.7 months; P = 0.070) between the elderly and non‐elderly groups, respectively. Age itself does not appear to be a significant contraindication to liver resection, including major hepatectomy, when patients are appropriately selected. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011; 104:804–808.