To compare the short-term and long-term therapeutic effect of laparoscopic-assisted surgery versus open surgery for the elderly patients with colorectal cancer.

From January 2013 to January 2015, a retrospective analysis was performed in 58 elderly patients (aged≥70) with colorectal cancer, including 27 cases in laparoscopy group and 31 cases in laparotomy group. Statistical analysis were performed by using SPSS20.0 software, perioperative related indicators were expressed as mean±standard deviation and were examined by using t test. Post-operative complication rate, local recurrence rate, distal metastasis rate and accumulative survival rate were examined by using Chi-square test. The survival rate was examined by using Kaplan-Meier test. A P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant difference.

There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of operation time and number of lymph nodes (P>0.05). The intraoperative blood loss, VAS score, first flatus time, diet recovery time and the average hospitalization time in laparoscopy group were significantly better than those in the laparotomy group (P<0.05), there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of post-operative complication rate, local recurrence rate, distal metastasis rate and accumulative survival rate (P>0.05).

Laparoscopic-assisted surgery in treating the elderly patients with colorectal cancer is feasible and safe, which is valuable to be applied in clinic.