Minimally invasive surgery reduces complications in elderly cancer patients

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) may preserve daily activities in patients over 80 with gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancers.

• Severe postoperative decline in daily living activities was 5.7% for MIS vs. 9.5% for open surgery, suggesting MIS is safer.
• 90-day readmission rates were lower for MIS at 16.6% compared to 22.3% for open surgery.

This approach is particularly beneficial for high-risk or frail patients.

• Intraoperative blood loss and length of stay were significantly better in the MIS group.