title: Surgical treatment for gastric cancer in Turkish patients over age 70: early postoperative results and risk factors for mortality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of advanced age on early postoperative results and to investigate risk factors for mortality in Turkish gastric cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2002 to 2007, 549 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer were divided into two groups as patients younger than 70 years and patients aged 70 years or older.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 387 patients in the younger group and 162 in the older group. Morbidity rates were similar (25.1% vs. 29.0%). Mortality was higher among the elderly patients (2.6% vs. 9.9%). Advanced age, albumin levels lower than 3 mg/dl, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists score, palliative resections and resection of two or more additional organs were independent risk factors for mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age alone should not preclude gastric resection in elderly patients. However, for patients with multiple risk factors, more limited surgery should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Surgery, Türkiye Yüksek İhtisas Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ilterozer@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ilter
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ozer
authors.forename: Erdal Birol
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Bostanci
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Koc
authors.forename: Kerem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ercan
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ulas
authors.forename: Yusuf B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Ozogul
authors.forename: Tahsin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dalgic
authors.forename: Musa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005743:Gastrectomy; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin