Evaluating the effect of age on postoperative and clinical outcomes in patients admitted to the intensive care unit after gastrointestinal cancer surgery

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to compare postoperative and clinical outcomes according to age and analyze the effect of age on mortality in patients admitted to the intensive care unit immediately after gastrointestinal cancer surgery.

Methods: A total of 477 patients admitted to the intensive care unit after gastrointestinal cancer surgery between March 2018, and February 2020, were classified into 3 groups according to age: young (<65 years), older (65-79 years), and oldest (≥80 years) groups. We compared their disease severity scores as well as postoperative and clinical outcomes including mortality.

Results: The young group comprised 167 (35.0%) patients, the older group 222 (46.5%) patients, and the oldest group 88 (18.4%) patients. There was a significant difference in the American Society of Anesthesiologists score, but not in the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, among the groups. The younger the age, the higher was the rate of vasopressor use; however, there were no significant differences in other postoperative and clinical outcomes, such as mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, length of intensive care unit stay, form of discharge, intensive care unit re-admission rate, in-hospital mortality, and in-30 days mortality. No significant differences in in-hospital survival, in-30 days survival, and overall survival were observed among the 3 groups.

Conclusion: The comorbidities of patients increase with age; however, there was no significant difference in postoperative and clinical outcomes related to age. Thereby, the older population can successfully undergo major operations if adequate perioperative management is provided.