Gynecologic oncology robot-assisted surgery in octogenarians: Impact of age on hospital stay

Abstract

Objective: To compare postoperative stay in octogenarians and younger patients undergoing gynecologic oncology robot-assisted surgery.

Methods: A retrospective review of robot-assisted surgery in Gynecological Oncology division during 2019-2022. We included all consecutive cases. Octogenarians (age ≥80 years) and younger patients were investigated by univariable analysis for characteristics and outcome.

Results: A total of 816 robot-assisted surgeries were performed, 426 (52.2%) endometrial cancer, 159 (19.5%) ovarian cancer, 27 (3.3%) cervical cancer, 35 (4.3%) endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia, and in 169 (20.7%) the final pathology was benign. There were 60 (7.4%) octogenarians and 756 (92.6%) younger patients. The proportion of patients with an American Society of Anesthesiology score greater than 2 was higher among octogenarians (66.7% vs 32.0%, P < 0.001). The median console time, surgical time, and total operation theater time were similar between groups (P = 0.303, P = 0.643 and P = 0.688, respectively). Conversion rate did not differ between groups (0.4% among younger patients vs 0% in octogenarians, P > 0.99). The median length of stay in the recovery room was similar in both groups (median 170 min, interquartile range [IQR] 125-225 min vs 170 min, IQR 128-240 min in octogenarians, P = 0.731). Length of hospital stay was similar in both age groups; median 1 day (IQR 1-1) among octogenarians versus 1 (0-1) in younger patients (P = 0.136).

Conclusion: Octogenarians undergoing robotic surgery have no increased risk of length of stay or conversion to laparotomy compared with younger patients.

Keywords: aging population; cancer; elderly; gynecologic oncology; robotic surgery.