Factors influencing one-year mortality in elderly patients undergoing surgery for clinical T4 and locally recurrent rectal cancer

Higher one-year mortality rates were observed in elderly patients undergoing surgery for clinical T4 and locally recurrent rectal cancer. Factors associated with increased mortality included preoperative anemia, total pelvic exenteration, pulmonary complications, and higher grade complications. The main causes of death were failure to recover and disease recurrence. Tailoring treatment for these patients should consider these risk factors to improve survival outcomes.