Laparoscopic versus open hepatectomy for elderly patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Purpose: To date, it is unclear whether laparoscopic hepatectomy (LH) is a suitable treatment for elderly patients (aged ?65 years) with liver metastases from colorectal cancer. The aim of the present study was to clarify the value of LH in the elderly using the propensity score matching method.

Methods: Data from 385 elderly patients who underwent hepatectomy for liver metastases from colorectal cancer at our institution between January 2008 and January 2016 were prospectively collected. Propensity score matching was applied at a ratio of 1:1 to compare LH and open hepatectomy (OH) groups. The short- and long-term outcomes were compared between the matched groups.

Results: The LH group had significantly less blood loss than the OH group. The postoperative length of hospital stay was shorter in the LH group than in the OH group: however, no significant intergroup differences were found in morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, the 5-year overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were similar between the two groups.

Conclusion: LH for elderly patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer was feasible and safe with acceptable oncologic outcomes. Therefore, patient age alone should not be considered as a contraindication when deciding between LH and OH as treatment options.