Geriatric approach to the treatment of senile patients with colorectal cancer

Introduction. The lack of consensus guidelines for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) in senile patients, the high incidence of early postoperative complications after radical surgery caused the search for the most optimal approach to the management of this category of patients.

The aim is to introduce a geriatric approach to the treatment of colorectal cancer in senile patients, reduce the incidence of Clavien–Dindo grade 4 early postoperative complications.

Materials and methods. 190 senile patients who underwent radical surgery with D3 lymphadenectomy with stage II and III colorectal cancer were enrolled in the study. They were divided into two groups: the control group included 100 patients who underwent standard treatment, the study group included 90 patients, to whom the geriatric approach with a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and subsequent pre-rehabilitation was applied. A comparative intergroup analysis was performed on the basis of obtained data.

Results. The study group differed from the control group in higher polymorbidity and high operational and anesthetic risk (p <0.001). Implementation of geriatric pre-rehabilitation with due account for CGA results and correction of polymorbidity improved chances of providing surgical care using laparoscopic and robotic technologies. The frequency of intraoperative blood transfusion and prolonged mechanical ventilation in the study group was reduced (p <0.001 and p = 0.009, respectively). Predictors that increase the chances of developing acute postoperative myocardial infarction were identified. They included the patient’s male gender (p = 0.004), redo surgery after development of early postoperative complications (p = 0.043), prolonged mechanical ventilation (p = 0.052), increased length of stay in the intensive care unit (p = 0.011), and comorbidity (p = 0.022). The introduction of the geriatric approach made it possible to reduce the risk of postoperative myocardial infarction by 17.86 times (p = 0.007).

Conclusion. The geriatric approach to the senile patients with colorectal cancer makes it possible to expand the indications for radical treatment in severe polymorbidity and senile asthenia, as well as to reduce the incidence of early postoperative complications.

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