Single‐port laparoscopic colectomy in elderly patients with colon cancer: A propensity score‐matched comparison with younger patients

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to evaluate the safety and feasibility of single-port laparoscopic colectomy (SPLC) in elderly patients with colon cancer. METHODS: During the study period, 344 patients underwent SPLC in our hospital. Among them, 87 patients were aged 80 years and older, and 257 patients were younger than 80 years. After 1:1 propensity-score matching, 87 elderly patients were compared with 87 young patients. RESULTS: Short-term clinical outcomes after SPLC were equivalent between the two groups, although the elderly group had a higher ASA score and more postoperative complications. The 5-year overall survival rates were 64.6% in the elderly group and 66.8% in control group. The 5-year cancer-specific survival rates were 78.0% in the elderly group and 70.9% in control group. There were no significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that SPLC is technically feasible for operative teams that have adequately standardized the procedure, and it is oncologically safe in elderly patients with colon cancer.