RISKS AND BENEFITS OF HEPATIC RESECTIONS FOR METASTASES IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

Between 1986 und 1995 we performed 60 hepatic resections in 52 patient s aged over 70 years for liver metastases of different primary tumours . The results were comparable regarding morbidity, mortality and long- term prognosis to the group of 176 patients under the age of 70 underg oing a total of 210 hepatic resections for metastases during the same time period. Thus liver resections for metastases can be performed wit h tolerable risks even in aged patients; postoperative mortality is in dependent of the patients' age and is due to the extent of resection; the survival rate is mainly influenced by radical resection.