title: Safety of pancreatic resection in the elderly: a retrospective analysis of 556 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The safety of pancreatic resection for elderly patients is still controversial. We examined the postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients aged 75 years or more undergoing pancreatic resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing pancreatic resection were studied retrospectively and the outcomes were compared between patients aged <75 and ≥75 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 556 patients enrolled, 78 (14%) were ≥75 years old. Elderly patients had significantly more co-morbidities, especially cardiovascular pathology (P=0.005). Also, elderly patients had significantly lower body mass index prior to surgery (P=0.005). There were no significant differences in terms of surgical procedures and tumor types between age groups. The incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula grade A was significantly lower in the elderly group (P=0.022), but no significant differences were noted in the overall morbidity or the incidence of postpancreatectomy hemorrhage, delayed gastric emptying, bile leakage, cardiac complications, pulmonary complications or septic complications. The 30-day mortality rate was similar between groups (0.8% vs. 1.3%; P=0.532).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pancreatic resection is a safe option for selected elderly patients. Our study confirms that age alone should not preclude potentially curative surgical therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Linus
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aronsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Joakim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fredriksson
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andersson
keywords: Pancreatic resection; elderly patients; outcome