Material and Method: Data of patients who underwent elective resection and anastomosis for colorectal cancer between January 2013 and December 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups: patients aged <65 years (Group 1) and those aged ?65 years (Group 2). Demographic characteristics, perioperative risks, diseased colonic segment, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgical procedure (laparoscopic/open) were evaluated between both groups. The primary endpoint of the study was the development of anastomotic leakage within 30 days postoperatively. The secondary endpoint was the leak-related mortality within 30 days postoperatively.
Results: The study included 358 patients; 60.6% of these were male and 39.4% were female, and mean age was 65.9 ± 12.33 years. The rate of anastomotic leakage was 5.6% (n = 9) in Group 1 and 5.1% (n = 10) in Group 2 (p = 0.283). Overall leak-related mortality was 1.95%. The leak-related mortality was 0.6% in Group 1 and 3.06% in Group 2 (p = 0.043).
Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that age is not a risk factor for anastomotic leakage following colorectal cancer surgery; however, there is an increased mortality following anastomotic leakage in elderly patients.
Keywords : Anastomotic leakage; Aged; Colorectal cancer; Mortality