[Surgery of digestive system cancers in patients over 80 years of age].
231 patients over 80 years old were operated at the Clinique de chirurgie digestive of Geneva University Hospital between 1981 and 1990 for a malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. The following parameters were studied: intra- and postoperative morbidity and mortality, duration and quality of survival. Surgery proved valid in this age group given its low mortality (15%). Postoperative morbidity (44%) did not prolong hospital stay, since 90% of all patients were discharged within one month of surgery. Following surgery, quality of life was excellent: 75% of patients returned home, and 80% were better off than pre-operatively. Such operations provide better results in term of mortality and survival when performed on an elective basis and curatively.
Clinique de chirurgie digestive, Hôpital cantonal universitaire, Genève.
J A
JA
Witzig
P
P
Morel
M
M
Erne
R
R
Egeli
F
F
Borst
A
A
Rohner
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality*; D011788:Quality of Life