The effect of age on short-term and mid-term outcomes after thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy: a propensity score-matched analysis
Friederike Martin,
Dino Kröll,
Sebastian Knitter,
Tobias Hofmann,
Jonas Raakow,
Christian Denecke,
Johann Pratschke,
Matthias Biebl
Affiliations
Friederike Martin
Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte | Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health
Dino Kröll
Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte | Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health
Sebastian Knitter
Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte | Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health
Tobias Hofmann
Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte | Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health
Jonas Raakow
Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte | Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health
Christian Denecke
Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte | Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health
Johann Pratschke
Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte | Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health
Matthias Biebl
Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte | Campus Virchow Klinikum, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health
Abstract Background The number of elderly patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer rises. Current information about outcomes in elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of age on short-and mid-term outcomes after thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. Methods A retrospective review of 188 patients with esophageal cancer undergoing thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomy between August 2014 and July 2019 was performed. Patients were divided into patients aged > 75 years (elderly group (EG), n = 37) and patients ≤ 75 years (younger group (YG), n = 151) and matched using propensity-score matching. Baseline characteristics, length of hospital stay, mortality and major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ grade III) were compared. Results After matching 74 patients remained (n = 37 in each group). Postoperatively, no significant differences in major and overall complications, intra-hospital and 30-day mortality, disease-free or overall survival up to 3 years after surgery were noted. The incidence of pulmonary complications (65% vs. 38%) and pneumonia (54% vs. 30%) was significantly higher and the median hospital length of stay (12 vs. 14 days) significantly longer in the EG versus YG. Conclusion Thoracoscopic Ivor Lewis esophagectomies resulted in acceptable postoperative major morbidity and mortality without compromising 3-years overall and disease-free survival in elderly compared to younger patients with esophageal cancer. However, the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications was higher in patients aged over 75 years.