[Comparison of patients over 70 years old operated for hernia and cholecystolithiasis in the years 1990-1994 and 2001-2002].
THE AIM OF THE STUDY was assessment of this phenomenon as observed in the past period of 1990-2002 among patients from the surgical department. In the years 1990-1994 the percentage of persons over 70 years who had been operated upon rose from 14 to 25% with an average of 14.7%.


METHODS
Patients operated for inquinal and femoral hernias and for cholecystolithiasis in the years 1990-1994 were assessed and compared with those operated in the years 2001-2002 with regard to the rate of postoperative complications.


RESULTS
It was found that the total percentage of patients over 70 years old operated upon became reduced from 14.7 to 9.7% and that it even fell from 34 to 17% in persons past 80 treated for hernia. The marked improvement of the results of the treatment of cholecystolithiasis was attributed to the introduction of the laparoscopic method of operation. In the group of patients treated with the above method the percentage of persons over 80 years old also fell from 19.2 to 12.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
This is proof that current demographic data do not always find their reflection among persons operated upon and that they do not bear aggravatingly upon the results of treatment.
Klinika Chirurgii Ogólnej i Gastroenterologicznej Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Lodzi.
Juliusz
J
Januszewski
Ryszard
R
Markert
D000368:Aged; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects; D041761:Cholecystolithiasis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006550:Hernia, Femoral / Q000601:surgery*; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome