One-year functional outcomes of patients aged 80 years or more undergoing colonic cancer surgery: prospective, multicentre observational study.

BACKGROUND: Older patients are at high risk of experiencing delayed functional recovery after surgical treatment. This study aimed to identify factors that predict changes in the level of support for activities of daily living and mobility 1 year after colonic cancer surgery. METHODS: This was a multicentre, observational study conforming to STROBE guidelines. The prospective data included pre-and postoperative mobility and need for support in daily activities, co-morbidities, onco-geriatric screening tool (G8), clinical frailty scale (CFS), operative data, and postoperative surgical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 167 patients aged 80 years or more with colonic cancer were recruited. After surgery, 30 per cent and 22 per cent of all patients had increased need for support and decreased motility. Multivariableanalysis with all patients demonstrated that preoperative support in daily activities outside the home (OR 3.23, 95 per cent c.i. 1.06 to 9.80, P = 0.039) was associated with an increased support at follow-up. A history of cognitive impairment (3.15, 1.06 to 9.34, P = 0.038) haemoglobin less than 120 g/l (7.48, 1.97 to 28.4, P = 0.003) and discharge to other medical facilities (4.72, 1.39 to 16.0, P = 0.013) were independently associated with declined mobility. With functionally independent patients, haemoglobin less than 120 g/l (8.31, 1.76 to 39.2, P = 0.008) and discharge to other medical facilities (4.38, 1.20 to 16.0, P = 0.026) were associated with declined mobility. CONCLUSION: Increased need for support before surgery, cognitive impairment, preoperative anaemia, and discharge to other medical facilities predicts an increased need for support or declined mobility 1 year after colonic cancer surgery. Preoperative assessment and optimization should focus on anaemia correction, nutritional status, and mobility with detailed rehabilitation plan.

The Clinical Frailty Scale is a useful tool for predicting postoperative complications following elective colon cancer surgery at the age of 80 years and above: A prospective, multicentre observational study.

AIM: Identification of the risks of postoperative complications may be challenging in older patients with heterogeneous physical and cognitive status. The aim of this multicentre, observational study was to identify variables that affect the outcomes of colon cancer surgery and, especially, to find tools to quantify the risks related to surgery. METHOD: Patients aged ≥80 years with electively operated Stage I-III colon cancer were recruited. The prospectively collected data included comorbidities, results of the onco-geriatric screening tool (G8), Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF), and operative and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 161 patients (mean 84.5 years, range 80-97, 60% female) were included. History of cerebral stroke (64% vs. 37%, p = 0.02), albumin level 31-34 g/l compared with ≥35 g/l (57% vs. 32%, p = 0.007), CFS 3-4 and 5-9 compared with CFS 1-2 (49% and 47% vs. 16%, respectively) and American Society of Anesthesiologists score >3 (77% vs. 28%, P = 0.006) were related to a higher risk of complications. In multivariate logistic regression analysis CFS ≥3 (OR 6.06, 95% CI 1.88-19.5, p = 0.003) and albumin level 31-34 g/l (OR 3.88, 1.61-9.38, p = 0.003) were significantly associated with postoperative complications. Severe complications were more common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (43% vs. 13%, p = 0.047), renal failure (25% vs. 12%, p = 0.021), albumin level 31-34 g/l (26% vs. 8%, p = 0.014) and CCI >6 (23% vs. 10%, p = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Surgery on physically and cognitively fit aged colon cancer patients with CFS 1-2 can lead to excellent operative outcomes similar to those of younger patients. The CFS could be a useful screening tool for predicting postoperative complications.

Lichtenstein hernioplasty versus totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic hernioplasty in treatment of recurrent inguinal hernia--a prospective randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the Lichtenstein hernioplasty with a totally extraperitoneal preperitoneal laparoscopic technique (TEP) in treatment of recurrent inguinal hernias. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Only a few studies thus far have compared an open and laparoscopic approach with the treatment of recurrent inguinal hernia in a prospective randomized study setting. METHODS: Ninety-nine patients undergoing surgery for recurrent inguinal hernia were prospectively randomized into having either open or laparoscopic mesh repair. Pre, peri- and postoperative factors were recorded in addition to 3-year follow-up data at the outpatient clinic. At 5-10 years, the patients were interviewed via telephone for recurrent symptoms. The primary end-points chosen were hernia recurrence and chronic pain. RESULTS: Preoperative factors did not differ between the 2 groups. Rerecurrence rates were 3 in the Lichtenstein group and none in the TEP group (6.4% versus 0.0%, respectively), but this difference was statistically not significant. Chronic pain was more prevalent in the Lichtenstein group compared with the TEP group (13 [27.7%] versus 4 [8.2%] patients, respectively, P = 0.02). Postoperatively, the Lichtenstein group needed more pain medication than the TEP group (4.4 versus 3.0 doses, respectively, P = 0.02) and returned to work later (17.9 versus 14.8 days, respectively, P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic technique with mesh in the treatment of recurrent inguinal hernia was proven superior to the open mesh repair in several important clinical aspects, with concomitant improvement in patient satisfaction.