Sphincter-saving proctectomy for rectal cancer with transanal tube NO COIL and without ostoma: clinical outcomes, cost effectiveness and quality of life in elderly.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common invasive cancers, and it is responsible for considerable physical and psychosocial morbidity specially in older patients. However, only few reports focused on quality of life, cost-effectiveness and clinical outcomes of rectal cancer patients undergone to surgery. This retrospective study compares short-term and long- term outcomes in rectal cancer patients with more and less 75 years of age.

METHODS: Four hundred consecutive patients underwent to radical surgery for rectal adenocarcinoma and they were collected in a prospective institutional database and divided into two groups: group 1 (≥ 75 years, n =98); group 2 (<75 years, n=302). Rectal anterior resection (RAR) with sphincter-saving restorative proctectomy and with application of silicone transanal tube NO COIL ® 60-80 mm long, was the only procedure considered. Main clinical and pathological data were assessed and compared.

RESULTS: Statistically significant differences between the two groups were detected regard to comorbidities and the emergency presentation. Overall survival is lower in patients over 75 age, but cancer-related survival is not different between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Although advanced age is associated with higher morbidity and mortality, in our experience, itself is not a contraindication for surgical sphincter-saving proctetomy in rectal cancer patients. The absence of a stoma improve also, in both groups, the cost-effectiveness and the patients quality of life: psychological morbidity, sexuality, levels of anxiety and depression, body image.