LUNG SURGERY IN THE ELDERLY - AN INCREASE D RISK

During 1990 to 1994, 180 pulmonary resections and 7 exploratory thorac otomies were performed and retrospectively analyzed for age-dependent hospital morbidity and mortality. Out of 141 men and 47 women (average age 60.4 +/- 11.9 years), 45 patients were 70 years or older (median 73 years). Mean ASA classification values were similar between patient s under 70 years of age and the elderly (2.17+/-0.72), mean FEV1 was r educed in the group of old aged (2.45+/-0.61 vs. 2.71+/-0.82). No diff erence could be found in hospital morbidity of septuagenarians and oct ogenarians compared to younger patients (greater than or equal to 70 y ears: 40%; <70 years: 40.8%), although hospital mortality increased in the elderly (11.1% vs. 3.5% in younger) with letal cases presenting a higher preoperative risk rate (ASA 2.75 vs. 2.18). In conclusion, we did not experience an increased overall rate of complications after op en lung surgery in the elderly, however, the risk of mortality increas ed in senescent patients with the appearance of a complication.