Published in:
01-11-2015 | Gastrointestinal Oncology
Feasibility of Gastrectomy with Standard Lymphadenectomy for Patients Over 85 Years Old with Gastric Cancer
Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology | Issue 12/2015
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Background
The feasibility of gastrectomy with standard lymphadenectomy for patients over 85 years of age is not known. This study investigated short- and long-term outcomes and the tolerability of gastrectomy with standard lymphadenectomy for patients over 85 years with gastric cancer.
Methods
Altogether, 77 patients aged over 85 years underwent gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer at the Cancer Institute Hospital, Japan from May 2000 to February 2012. Postoperative short-term outcomes and survivals were analyzed retrospectively. Standard lymphadenectomy was defined according to the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association guidelines. Lymphadenectomy without splenectomy during total gastrectomy was called “reduced” lymphadenectomy.
Results
Distal gastrectomy was performed in 51 patients, total gastrectomy in 20, remnant total gastrectomy in 5, and proximal gastrectomy in 1 patient. Gastrectomy with standard lymphadenectomy was initially planned for 50 (64.9 %) patients and completed in 42 (54.5 %) patients. The other 8 patients underwent reduced lymphadenectomy because they required R1 or R2 resection. There were no deaths. The morbidity rate was 55.8 % overall and 54.8 % with standard lymphadenectomy. The most frequent complication was intestinal hypoperistalsis (29.9 %). The mean postoperative hospital stay was 19 days (range 10–70 days). The median overall survival time was 46.8 months.
Conclusion
Coupled with comprehensive postoperative medical care due to the relative high morbidity risk, gastrectomy with standard lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer may be acceptable for relatively healthy patients over 85 years of age. Decisions to reduce the extent of lymphadenectomy during gastrectomy should not be based on advanced age alone.