Is It Safe to Offer Radical Cystectomy to Patients above 85 Years of Age? A Long-Term Follow-Up in a Single-Center Institution

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> With a median age at diagnosis of 73 years, bladder cancer has the highest median age of all cancers. Age alone seems to be an independent risk factor for developing the disease with peak age advancing into the range of 85 years. As demographic changes will lead to an ever more aging population in western countries, incidence of advanced age malignancies will rise. We, therefore, analyzed a contemporary radical cystectomy (RC) series at a single high-volume center on patients undergoing RC for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB). We aim to evaluate the feasibility of RC in the oldest-old patient cohort by assessing perioperative complications and long-term outcome. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> We retrospectively analyzed data of 1,278 consecutive patients who underwent RC for UCB at our tertiary referral center between 2004 and 2019. A total of 408 patients were aged 75–97 years at the time of RC and were further divided into 2 groups: 75–84 years of age (group 1) and ≥85 years of age (group 2). Median follow-up was 23 months. Outcome was analyzed using the χ² test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank test. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Perioperative Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III complications were seen in 25.1% (92/366) of group 1 patients and 35.7% (15/42) of group 2 patients (<i>p</i> = 0.073). Thirty- and 90-day mortality was 3.3 and 8.7% in group 1 and 4.8 and 14.3% in group 2 (<i>p</i> = 0.617 and <i>p</i> = 0.242, respectively). Three-year overall survival was 54.6% in group 1 and 31.3% in group 2 (<i>p</i> = 0.03). Three-year cancer-specific survival was 64.8% in group 1 and 38.8% in group 2 (<i>p</i> = 0.037). Recurrence-free survival was 105 months in group 1 and 12 months in group 2 (<i>p</i> = 0.039). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b>In light of increasing life expectancy in western nations, we sought to evaluate the impact of age in a large series of elderly patients undergoing RC for UCB. We found that RC offers acceptable perioperative complication rates in the oldest-old patient cohort (≥85 years). Therefore, RC for UCB can be offered as a viable treatment option even in the oldest patients.

Laparoscopic versus open radical cystectomy for patients with bladder cancer over 75-year-old: a prospective randomized controlled trial

The aim of this study was to compare the morbidity, mortality, oncological results and quality of life between laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) and open radical cystectomy (ORC) in the elderly patients over 75 years old. Between January 2012 and January 2015, 60 patients were recruited into this study, who were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either LRC or ORC group. Baseline patient characteristics, pathological factors, operative and postoperative characteristics, postoperative complications and survival data were retrospectively collected, analyzed and compared between the two groups. Patients in LRC group and ORC group had comparable baseline characteristics and pathological factors (all P > 0.05). LRC group required longer operative time (408.2 ± 76.9 vs. 311.7 ± 65.3 min, P = 0.000) and had less EBL (621.6 ± 100.7 vs. 1088.5 ± 109.4 ml, P = 0.000) compared with ORC group. The incidence of infection and ileus within 90 days after surgery in ORC group was significantly higher than LRC group(6.9% vs. 28.6%, P = 0.041; 3.4% vs. 25%, P = 0.025). At a median follow-up of 28 months (range 12–48 months), the survival analysis showed that there were no significant differences between the LRC and ORC groups in overall survival (log-rank χ² = 0.122; P = 0.726), or progress-free survival (log-rank χ² = 0.153; P = 0.696). In conclusion, this study confirmed that LRC could achieve similar tumor treatment efficacy compared to ORC, with fewer perioperative complications and less blood loss. We suggest that LRC should be considered as the primary intervention for patients aged over 75 years old with muscle invasive bladder cancer or non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with high risk factors.

Falling bladder cancer incidence from 1990 to 2009 is not producing universal mortality improvements

Objective

The objective of this article is to obtain up-to-date epidemiological statistics of bladder cancer in England.

Methods

We collected incidence from the National Cancer Data Repository (NCDR), survival from the national Cancer Information System (CIS), ethnicity information from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), mortality and smoking rates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Results

Incidence of bladder cancer has fallen continuously. Mortality has reduced less, leading to worsening survival. Bladder cancer mainly affects men, the most deprived, and the elderly. The gender gap is decreasing, and the deprivation gap is unchanged. Mortality is unchanged in the youngest, oldest and least deprived females. Mortality has recently increased in the oldest males. The highest incidence and mortality is found in industrial areas. This study is limited by i) its retrospective design using existing databases, allowing identification of associations and statistical differences, but not causation; and ii) very restricted ethnicity data.

onclusion

Reductions in bladder cancer incidence and mortality in England coincide with a decrease in high-risk occupations and public health measures to reduce smoking. Some risk factors in modern living may as yet be unidentified. It remains paramount to ensure equity of access and treatment regardless of gender, age, region and social deprivation to further improve mortality.

Radical cystectomy in patients over 80 years old in Quebec: A population-based study of outcomes

OBJECTIVES

To document radical cystectomy (RC) outcomes in patients over 80 years old across Quebec during the years 2000-2009 and to examine potentially related factors.

METHODS

Within Quebec health insurance medical services database, we identified patients over 80 years who underwent RC. The outcomes analyzed were post-operative complications, mortality rates at 30, 60 and 90 days and overall survival.

RESULTS

A total of 275 patients over 80 years old had RC performed in 38 hospitals across Quebec. Among them, 33% had major post-operative complications with 16% having more than one complication. Mortality rates at 30, 60 and 90 days were 5.8%, 9.8% and 13% respectively. 44.3% of RCs were performed in seven academic hospitals with mortality rates of 2.5%, 6.5% and 9% respectively. Community hospitals had mortality of 8.5%, 12.4% and 16.3% respectively (P < 0.001). The cohort 5-year overall survival rate was 27%. The presence of post-operative complications and the number of complications negatively affected overall survival (P < 0.001) CONCLUSION: Patients over 80 years of age have high post-RC mortality rates, especially at 90 days. In addition, it appears that they have lower post-operative mortality if their RCs were performed in academic centers. Mortality rates and complications can be used when obtaining informed consent.

Comparison of Complications from Radical Cystectomy between Old-Old versus Oldest-Old Patients

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare complications after radical cystectomy in patients aged ≥75 years. Materials and Methods: 251 patients aged 75-95 years (median 79) underwent radical cystectomy between 2000 and 2012 at four institutions. The patients were divided into two groups: ≥75-84 years of age (group 1) versus ≥85 years of age (group 2). Comorbidities, body mass index, and complications were obtained retrospectively, except at the Central Hospital of Bolzano and Weill Cornell Medical Center, which collected data prospectively. Cancer-specific survival, overall mortality, hospital stay, clinical outcome and complications were assessed. Complications were categorized using the Clavien-Dindo classification reporting system. The mean follow-up was 21 months. Results: The median hospital stay was 17 (2-91) days. Perioperative Clavien-Dindo grade ≥III complications were seen in 24.1% (48/199) of group 1 patients and 19.2% (10/52) of group 2 patients (p = 0.045). 30- and 90-day mortality was 4.5 and 13.5% in group 1 and 6.5 and 32.3% in group 2, respectively. Only the 90-day mortality rate was statistically significant (p < 0.05) between the two groups. The 3-year overall survival was 40% in group 1 and 34% in group 2. The 3-year cancer-specific survival was 52% in group 1 and 50% in group 2. Conclusions: We evaluated a large series of elderly (≥75 years) patients undergoing radical cystectomy at four institutions. Comparing patients aged ≥75-84 and ≥85 years revealed no significant difference in complications, 30-day mortality, overall and cancer-specific survival rates. Only 90-day mortality rates were significantly higher in the ≥85-year-old patients.

Feasibility of radical cystectomy in exclusive spinal and/or epidural anaesthesia

PURPOSE

Muscle invasive bladder cancer can be found predominantly in elderly people with a high likelihood of suffering from concomitant diseases; especially in these patients, the risks associated with general anaesthesia during radical cystectomy can be the limiting factor of performing an otherwise indicated radical operation. To overcome this limitation, we analysed the feasibility of performing radical cystectomy in exclusive spinal and/or epidural anaesthesia.

METHODS

Between March and June 2010, nine patients underwent radical cystectomy in exclusive spinal and/or epidural anaesthesia. These patients were either not willing or unfit to undergo radical cystectomy in general anaesthesia. A continent urinary diversion (ileum neobladder) and an ileum-conduit were performed in five patients and four patients, respectively. The feasibility of radical cystectomy in regional anaesthesia was tested using a variety of parameters.

RESULTS

All nine procedures could be performed under strict regional anaesthesia. Mean operation time was 206 min (range 146-265 min), mean intraoperative blood loss was 622 ml (range 200-1,500 ml), mean postoperative time at intermediate care was 1 day (range 0-3 days) and mean length of hospital stay was 21.8 days (range 17-26 days). Analgesics of the WHO class I, II and III were applied for 5.7, 1.2 and 2.8 days mean, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Performance of radical cystectomy in exclusive spinal and/or epidural anaesthesia is feasible and can be considered particularly in those patients who would be otherwise unfit to undergo radical cystectomy in general anaesthesia. This new operative and anaesthesiological concept could also play an important role in new fast track regimens.