Clinical Trials Study
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World J Gastroenterol. Jun 7, 2014; 20(21): 6620-6625
Published online Jun 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i21.6620
Liver resection in hepatitis B related-hepatocellular carcinoma: Clinical outcomes and safety in elderly patients
Hai-Qing Wang, Jian Yang, Lu-Nan Yan, Xiao-Wu Zhang, Jia-Yin Yang
Hai-Qing Wang, Jian Yang, Lu-Nan Yan, Xiao-Wu Zhang, Jia-Yin Yang, Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Transplantation Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to this work and designed the research; Yang J, Yang JY and Zhang XW analyzed and interpreted the data; Wang HQ and Yan LN drafted the manuscript; all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by Grants from the National Science and Technology Major Project of China, No. 2012ZX10002-016 and No. 2012ZX10002-017
Correspondence to: Jia-Yin Yang, PhD, Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Transplantation Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Xiang, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. yangjygyz@163.com
Telephone: +86-28-85422867 Fax: +86-28-85422867
Received: November 30, 2013
Revised: March 8, 2014
Accepted: March 19, 2014
Published online: June 7, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Elderly patients are regarded as unsuitable for liver resection due to the presence of comorbidities. Our study found that elderly patients did have more comorbidities than younger patients, but also had better liver function and reduced hepatitis B infection. Elderly patients had similar overall morbidity and higher mortality compared with younger patients. Older patients also had more cardiovascular complications, neurological complications and a longer hospital stay, but less hepatic insufficiency. Our study suggested that liver resection can be safely performed in carefully selected elderly patients with accepted higher complication and mortality rates.