The Use of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol in PatientsUndergoing Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer–A Comparative Analysis of Patients Aged above 80 and below 55.

The Use of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol in PatientsUndergoing Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer–A Comparative Analysis of Patients Aged above 80 and below 55.

Pędziwiatr M, Pisarska M, Wierdak M, Major P, Rubinkiewicz M, Kisielewski M, Matyja M, Lasek A, Budzyński A (2015) The Use of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer–A Comparative Analysis of  Patients Aged above 80 and below 55. Pol Przegl Chir. 2015 Nov;87(11):565-72.

What is already known:

With increasing frailty and co-morbidities, age is often thought of as a barrier to successful outcomes after surgery. In this single centre Polish study, they compare post-operative outcomes in patients over the age of 80 years with those under the age of 55.

What this paper adds:
This was a small retrospective review of prospectively recorded data. All patients underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery and followed a comprehensive ERAS program. Mean length of hospital stay was not significantly different between groups [5.4 days (>80yrs) vs 7 days (<55yrs), p=0.44]; nor postoperative complications or readmissions. Overall compliance of ERAS elements was impressively high in both groups [85% vs 83%]. Early mobilisation (<2 hours post-op) was also not impaired in the over 80 group [94% compliance vs 83%]. The only difference found, was that only 26% of >80yrs required opioids postoperatively compared with 55% of the <55yrs group. This study adds to the evidence that age should not be a barrier to surgery and that patients over the age of 80 can have similar outcomes to much younger patients.

Chris Jones, Guildford.  @chrisnjones