Liver resection in elderly: comparative study between younger and older than 70 years patients. Outcomes and implications for therapy

Background and aim: to identify the factors that could influence the outcome of the old aged patients underwent liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or colorectal liver metastases (LMCRC). Patient and methods: the Authors identified 51 patients older 70 years-old over 12-years period underwent resection for HCC (n 26) or for LMCRC (n 25). This group was compared with a cohort of 93 patients younger than 70 years who underwent resections in the same period. We have evaluated the results in terms of peroperative morbidity and mortality. Results: the mean age of 51 elderly patients was 74 years-old. Thirty-five were treated with anatomical resection. Cirrhosis was present in 26 patients while 27 had co-morbidities. Thirteen patients developed complications and the mean age of these were 76 years compared with 73 of the patients who have not (p= .01). No mortality was registered. The cirrhosis, blood transfusions, anatomical resection and diameter of the lesion did not influence the outcome. Conclusions: our results indicate the age per se should not be considered a contraindication for surgery, that proved to be safe and curative therapy, but showed that old age, using 75 years as a cut-off, in association with at least one comorbid medical condition could be considered as relevant factor of morbidit