Esophageal cancer (EC) is the eighth dangerous cancer in the world. As the global population ages, the management of elderly patients with EC poses a challenge as they have many aging-associated diseases and physiological changes. In addition, the data on the tolerability of cancer treatment and the use of combined therapies in the patients to guide their treatment are limited. In this paper, we reviewed the literatures and discussed the effect of surgical resection and the potential complications of elderly patients. We reviewed the basic principles of combined therapy and the potential benefits of chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for patients and focused on the management of elderly patients with EC as well as the role of comprehensive assessment for aging to provide treatment options for elderly patients.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of mitral valve surgery and cryoablation in elderly patients with mitral valve disease and persistent or long-term persistent atrial fibrillation.MethodsFrom May 2014 to July 2018, 144 patients with mitral valve diseases combined with persistent or long-term persistent atrial fibrillation in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command were selected. Among them, there were 69 patients in a non-elderly group (<60 years) including 18 males and 51 females aged 52.07±5.56 years, and 75 patients in an elderly group (≥60 years) including 32 males and 43 females aged 65.23±4.29 years. A propensity-score matching (PSM) study was conducted to eliminate confounding factors. Both groups underwent mitral valve surgery and cryoablation at the same time. A 2-year follow-up was conducted after discharge from the hospital, and the perioperative and postoperative efficacy indexes were compared between the two groups.ResultsAfter PSM analysis, there were 56 patients in each group. The sinus rhythm conversion rate of the two groups at each follow-up time point was above 85%, and the cardiac function was graded asⅠorⅡ, which was significantly improved compared with that before the surgery, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Among the perioperative indicators of the two groups, the elderly group had more coronary artery bypass graft surgeries and longer postoperative ICU stay time compared with the non-elderly group (P<0.05), and the differences in other indicators were not statistically different (P>0.05).ConclusionThe mitral valve surgery and cryoablation in elderly patients with mitral valve diseases combined with persistent or long-term persistent atrial fibrillation are safe, and the short-term outcome is satisfactory.
Objective To investigate the effect of virtual reality (VR) sham feeding on gastrointestinal function in elderly patients with hip fracture. Methods Elderly patients with hip fracture admitted to Trauma Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University between June and December 2024 who met the case selection criteria were selected. Patients who were willing to complete the postoperative VR operation were assigned to the experimental group (VR group), and the other patients were assigned to the control group by 1∶1 manual interval matching according to sex, age (±5 years), and body mass index (±2 kg/m2). The control group received fasting and nutrition management strategy during perioperative period of accelerated rehabilitation. In the VR group, VR sham feeding intervention was performed on the basis of the control group. The time of first postoperative exhaust and defecation, postoperative gastrointestinal symptoms, postoperative nutrition (hemoglobin, serum albumin) and inflammatory indicators (white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6), postoperative appetite and postoperative complications (bleeding, fever, delirium, aspiration, vertigo) were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 70 patients were enrolled, with 35 in each group. There were statistically significant differences (P<0.05) between the VR group and the control group in the time of postoperative first exhaust [(9.17±4.81) vs. (13.66±5.97) h], time of postoperative first defecation [(49.00±28.61) vs. (66.83±29.93) h], degree of abdominal distension 3 d after surgery (grade 0/1/2: 26/7/2 vs. 16/12/7 cases), appetite score 1 d after surgery (62.86±12.85 vs. 54.71±11.50), appetite score 3 d after surgery (76.29±9.95 vs. 62.43±8.86), albumin level 3 d after surgery [(33.18±3.41) vs. (31.40±3.07) g/L], and hospitalization days [(7.97±1.38) vs. (9.06±2.43) d], while there was no statistically significant difference in other indicators (P>0.05). Conclusions The incidence of postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction is high in elderly patients with hip fracture. VR sham feeding can promote the early recovery of gastrointestinal function, alleviate postoperative abdominal distension, significantly improve postoperative appetite, and increase albumin level after surgery.
Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of T lymphocyte subsets, natural killer (NK) cells and CD19+ B cells in the elderly with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) before and after treatment. Methods The elderly ITP patients diagnosed and treated in the Songjiang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine (preparatory stage) between January 2014 and June 2019 were retrospectively selected as the observation group. The healthy elderly in the same period were selected as the control group. According to the treatment, the observation group was divided into effective group and ineffective group. The expression levels of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+), NK cells and CD19+ B cells were observed and analyzed. Results A total of 75 subjects were included, including 35 in the observation group and 40 in the control group. The total effective rate was 85.71% (30/35). Before treatment, the expression levels of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+) in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in other indexes between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, except for CD8+, the expression levels of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+) in the observation group were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). The expression levels of NK cells and CD19+ B cells were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05). The expression levels of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+) in the effective group were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05), while the expression level of CD19+ B cells was lower than that before treatment (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in other indexes before and after treatment (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression levels of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+), NK cells and CD19+ B cells in the ineffective group before and after treatment (P>0.05). Conclusions T lymphocyte subsets are abnormal in elderly ITP patients. The immune abnormality of T lymphocyte may be one of the reasons for elderly patients with ITP. With the improvement of therapeutic effect, immune cell subsets have also been improved.
Objective To observe the short-term efficacy and the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in patients aged over 80 years with multivessel coronary artery disease following two-stage Hybrid surgery. Methods We retrospectively analysed the clinical data of 67 patients aged over 80 years with multivessel coronary artery disease undergoing surgery in our hospital. The were 44 males and 23 females with an anverage age of 82.4±2.1 years. According to the operation pattern, the patients were divided into two groups: a two-stage Hybrid surgery group (n=29, 19 males, 10 females, aged 83.2±3.1 years) and a traditional thoracotomy group (n=38, 25 males, 13 females, aged 83.3±3.4 years). We compared the clinical results of perioperation between the two groups. Results Conpared with the traditional thoracotomy group, the two-stage Hybrid surgery group had shorter postoperative duration of mechanical ventilation (6.7±2.2 hvs. 18.2±3.4 h) and hospitalization stay (15.7±3.0 dvs. 20.7±5.6 d) and had less volume of chest drainage during the first 24 h after surgery (176.5±32.3 mlvs. 443.8±51.5 ml). The incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in the two-stage Hybrid surgery group was significantly lower than that in the traditional thoracotomy group (6.9%vs. 23.1%, P<0.05). Conclusion The two-stage Hybrid surgery in patients aged over 80 years with multivessel coronary artery disease can significantly decrease the postoperative incidence of adverse cardiovascular events, shorten the postoperative duration of mechanical ventilation and hospitalization stay, reduce the volume of chest drainage during the first 24 h after surgery and improve prognosis of surgery for the elderly patients.
ObjectiveTo assess whether the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) of elderly patients can be used as an evaluation index for complications after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).MethodsA total of 265 patients with EVAR who received abdominal aortic aneurysm between January 2011 to December 2017 were included in this study from West China Hospital of Sichuan University. All patients included in this study were subrenal arterial AAA. Statistical analysis of clinical data was performed. The value of GNRI in evaluating postoperative complications of EVER patients was evaluated.ResultsOf the 372 patients, 158 were included in the GNRI abnormal group (GNRI≤98), and 214 were included in the normal group (GNRI>98). Univariate analysis showed that the age (P=0.04), drinking (P=0.04), serum albumin level (P<0.001), BMI (P<0.001), GNRI (P=0.004), and stroke (P<0.05) were risk factors that affects postoperative complications of AAA. Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative GNRI [HR=0.687, 95%CI: (0.487, 0.968), P=0.032] abnormality was one of the risk factors affecting postoperative complications of AAA.ConclusionFor patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm, the GNRI is one of the important indicator for predicting postoperative complications.
Objective To investigate the effects of different ventilation modes on postoperative pulmonary complications in elderly patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Methods The patients who underwent upper abdominal surgery under general anesthesia in Chengdu Office Hospital of the People’s Government of Tibet Autonomous Region between February 2020 and February 2021 were selected. Patients were randomly divided into volume controlled ventilation (VCV) group, pressure controlled ventilation (PCV) group, and pressure controlled ventilation-volume guarantee (PCV-VG) group according to the random number table method. All the three groups adopted the internationally recognized lung protective ventilation strategy. The transcutaneous arterial oxygen saturation and respiratory mechanics indicators of three different time periods, as well as pulmonary symptoms and signs and laboratory imaging examinations 7 days after surgery were recorded. The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in the three groups of patients were evaluated using the Melbourne Group Scale Version 2. Results A total of 120 patients were included, with 40 in each group. There was no statistically significant difference in the general situation of the three groups of patients (P>0.05). The platform pressure and compliance of three different time periods all changed over time (P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the occurrence of pulmonary complications and hospital stay among the three groups 7 days after surgery (P<0.05). Conclusion Under the internationally recognized lung protective ventilation strategy, PCV-VG mode can significantly reduce the incidence of pulmonary complications 7 days after abdominal surgery, shorten the length of hospital stay, and improve the quality of life in elderly patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical effect and prognosis of laparoscopic complete mesocolic resection (CME) in the treatment of elderly patients with stage Ⅲ right colon cancer.MethodsClinical data of 280 elderly patients (aged 60 years or older) who underwent stage Ⅲ right hemicolectomy in the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from 2010 to 2015 were collected. Among them, 160 patients underwent laparoscopic CME treatment were set as the observation group, and 120 patients underwent conventional laparotomy were set as the control group. The mean operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative first anal exhaust time, number of lymph nodes dissection, number of positive lymph nodes, length of hospital stay and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. The postoperative local recurrence rate, distant metastasis rate, 3-year cumulative survival rate and postoperative recurrence risk factors were analyzed.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences between the observation group and the control group in operative time, number of lymph node dissection, number of positive lymph nodes and postoperative distant metastasis rate (P>0.05). The amount of intraoperative blood loss, postoperative anal first exhaust time, days of hospitalization, and postoperative recurrence rate in the observation group were less or shorter or lower than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The 3-year survival rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (log-rank χ2 =11.865, P=0.001), and the disease free survival in the observation group was also higher than that in the control group (log-rank χ2=7.567, P=0.006). Logistic regression was used to analyze the cases of postoperative recurrence in the two groups, and it was found that the degree of tumor differentiation, vascular invasion and lymph node metastasis were independent risk factors for postoperative tumor recurrence.ConclusionLaparoscopic CME in the treatment of elderly patients with stage Ⅲ right colon cancer is effective, it is safe and feasible, which can effectively prolong the survival time of patients.
Objective To analyze the efficacy of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) in elderly patients with coronary artery disease complicated with moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation. Methods The clinical data of patients aged≥70 years with coronary artery disease complicated with moderate mitral regurgitation, and undergoing OPCABG from January 2009 to January 2020 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The echocardiographic indicators of the patients were compared preoperatively, postoperatively before discharge and during the follow-up. Results Finally 239 patients were enrolled. There were 136 males and 103 females, aged 74.1±3.2 years. Before postoperative discharge, 49 (20.5%) patients had no mitral regurgitation, 144 (60.3%) mild regurgitation, 46 (19.2%) moderate regurgitation, and 0 severe regurgitation. The area of mitral regurgitation was significantlyimproved (2.5±1.8 cm2 vs. 5.6±1.0 cm2, P<0.001). There were 10 (4.2%) patients of hospital death, 23 (9.6%) of low cardiac output, 3 (1.3%) of myocardial infarction, and 8 (3.3%) of nervous system injury after operation. As a result, 208 (90.8%) patients were followed up and the mean follow-up time was 3.4 years (range 1-9 years). The cumulative survival rates at postoperative 2, 4, 6, and 8 years were 95.8%, 88.0%, 78.4%, and 73.1%, respectively. Postoperative follow-up showed significant improvements compared with those before surgery in the area of mitral regurgitation, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic and left ventricular end-systolic diameters (all P＜0.05). Duirng the follow-up, the major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were all cause death in 22 (10.6%) patients, including cardiac death in 17 (8.2%) patients, myocardial infarction in 7 (3.4%) patients, heart failure in 24 (11.5%) patients, cerebrovascular events in 11 (5.3%) patients, re-hospitalization due to heart disease in 23 (11.1%) patients, and none of the patients with myocardial infarction were revascularized. Conclusion The mid- and long-term outcomes of OPCABG in the treatment for elderly patients with coronary artery disease complicated with moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation is good.
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) score in evaluating the severity of hip fracture-induced early acute lung injury (ALI) in the elderly patients.MethodsThe clinical data of 289 elderly hip fracture patients in Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from July 2014 to April 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were divided into two groups, including an ALI group (n=114, 36 males and 78 females at age of 82.94±6.85 years) and a non-ALI group (n=175, 51 males and 124 females at age of 84.42±6.31 years). General information, chest HRCT scores and PaO2/FiO2 were compared between the two groups. Correlation analysis was used to compare the relationship between chest HRCT scores and PaO2/FiO2. Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis was applied to evaluate the effective extent of the diffuse ground glass opacity (DGGO), intense parenchymal opacification (IPO), and reticulation HRCT scores to the overall HRCT scores.ResultsThe DGGO scores, IPO scores, reticulation scores, overall HRCT scores and PaO2/FiO2 were higher in the ALI group than those in the non-ALI group (P<0.001). In the ALI group, correlation analysis showed that DGGO, overall HRCT scores were in significantly negative correlation with PaO2/FiO2 (P<0.001). In addition, the correlation among PaO2/FiO2 and overall HRCT scores was more significant than that of DGGO scores. Multiple stepwise regression analysis indicated that DGGO, IPO, and reticulation scores were independent influencing factors for overall HRCT scores. Among the influencing factors, DGGO scores had the greatest impact, then IPO scores and reticulation scores. The HRCT signs of DGGO, IPO, and reticulation appeared simultaneously had the greatest effects on the overall HRCT scores.ConclusionThe chest HRCT score, which is associated with PaO2/FiO2, also can be used in the severity assessment of elderly patients with early ALI caused by hip fracture.