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.

Keywords: Quebec; complications; elderly; mortality; radical cystectomy; survival.

© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.