[Emergency surgery in elderly: experience gained in 198 cases over 80].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate our 2-year experience in the emergency surgical treatment of elderly people (aged > or = 80).


METHODS
A retrospective review was conducted of 198 elderly patients admitted to Emergency Surgery Unit of the Ospedale Maggiore in Bologna from 01.07.2001 to 30.06.2003.


RESULTS
All the Patients were submitted to emergency operations. Mean age was 84.8 (range 80-96); Female were 152, male 73. Preexisting condition, ASA scores and surgical procedures were recorded. The postoperative mortality was 17.1%. The mean length of stay in our Unit was 9.7 days; 93 patients needed rehabilitation facility at discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
The Authors concluded that emergency surgery entails a high risk to the patients, high cost in hospital resources and rehabilitation facility.
Tugnoli
G
G
Unità Operativa di Chirurgia d'Urgenza e del Trauma, Ospedale Maggiore di Bologna. gregorio.tugnoli@ausl.bologna.it
Casali
M
M
Villani
S
S
Biscardi
A
A
Baldoni
F
F
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000191:economics