title: Colorectal surgery in patients over 80 years old.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We analyzed colorectal resections in patients over 80 years old, performed for all benign and malign diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected 300 consecutive colorectal resections between 2002 and 2008. Patients were divided into two groups: group A was composed by patients younger than 80 years old and group B by patients older than 80. Data were evaluated with t-test and chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed 180 women and 120 men. The median age was 66 years old (range, 30-90). Most frequent indications were colorectal cancer (46%), diverticulitis (35%) and extra-colic cancers (10%). Group B was composed of 60 patients (20%). Old patients had more concomitant diseases (62% vs. 33%, p<0.005), but complications, mortality and hospital stay were comparable in both groups. Surgical emergency increases morbidity (38% vs. 9%) and mortality (13.45 vs. 0.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Colorectal resections can be performed with good results in elderly patients. A colic disease must be detected before the patient develops a surgical complication because urgent surgery has more complications and deaths compared to elective surgery, especially for older patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ospedale La Carita, Locarno, Switzerland. apelloni@bluewin.ch
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelloni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D012809:Colon, Sigmoid / Q000601:surgery; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013557:Switzerland; D016896:Treatment Outcome