title: Results of operative treatment of gastrointestinal tract tumors in patients over 80 years of age.
abstract: Between 1981 and 1986, 140 patients over 80 years of age were operated on for a gastrointestinal tract tumor in our service. There were 24 gastric, one small-bowel, 91 colonic, and 24 rectal cancers. Only 40% of the patients were preoperatively free of any systemic disorder other than tumor. We performed surgical procedures with a curative intent for 90 (64%) of them. Our mean overall postoperative mortality was 17%, but this rate could be decreased by performing elective operations on well-prepared patients. Over 80% of the deaths were related to systemic organ failures. Eighty-three percent of the survivors (96 patients) returned to their homes; 82% (94 patients) had normal activities for their age. The actuarial survival curve showed a 50% survival rate at three years, all tumoral stages included. These results support the view that surgery is a safe, valid option in the face of gastrointestinal tract tumors in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morel
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Egeli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wachtl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rohner
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*