Older patients face higher risks in minimally invasive surgeries

A multicenter study of 7,303 patients revealed that octogenarians undergoing laparoscopic or robot-assisted colorectal surgeries exhibit significantly higher postoperative complication rates compared to younger counterparts. Specifically, patients aged 80 and above had increased comorbidities and elevated ASA and ECOG-PS scores, indicating greater surgical risks. Findings suggest that minimizing operation time and controlling blood loss are essential, particularly for rectal cancer patients in this age group, to enhance safety outcomes in elder surgical care.