THE LUNG-CANCER IN THE ELDERLY - THE SURGICAL APPROACH

The experience accumulated In a 5-year period with the surgical treatm ent of lung cancer in the elderly is reviewed. The cases of 171 patien ts treated between December 1989 and November 1994, were evaluated ret rospectively, according to a selected groups of parameters. Fifty pati ents underwent thoracotomy, and the recorded postoperative complicatio ns were analyzed. The most important factors for predicting complicati ons were the oxygen partial pressure in the arterial blood (PO2) the f orced expiratory volume/1 sec (FEV(1)), the seriousness of the surgica l intervention, and the duration of general anesthesia. The correct se lection of patients and an adequate treatment of complications may be crucial for the success of surgical therapy of elderly patient.