EMERGENCY OPERATIONS IN THE ELDERLY - MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME

Citation
Id. Karanikas et al., EMERGENCY OPERATIONS IN THE ELDERLY - MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME, International surgery, 81(2), 1996, pp. 158-162
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Surgery
Journal title
ISSN journal
00208868
Volume
81
Issue
2
Year of publication
1996
Pages
158 - 162
Database
ISI
SICI code
0020-8868(1996)81:2<158:EOITE->2.0.ZU;2-U
Abstract
For the purpose of highlighting the problems that arise in emergency s urgical procedures in elderly patients and of defining safe management , the records of 797 patients aged over 70, operated urgently during a 22-year period, were reviewed. The mortality was 18.4% in the emergen cy and 4.5% in the elective operations (p<0.0001). There was no correl ation between mortality rates in different age groups, The majority of the patients (67.3%) with coexisting cardio or pulmonary diseases exp ired. The mortality was significantly lower in the second 11-year peri od (1982-1992) (14%) than in the first one (1971-1981) (23.8%), (p<0.0 001). In conclusion, age is not a contraindication for an emergency op eration and does not affect mortality which appears to be directly rel ated to the severity and nature of the disease and to the coexisting c ardio pulmonary diseases. We must advise the elderly to be operated on timely, In some severe surgical conditions it is wise to perform ad h oc the most conservative operation.