GYNECOLOGIC TREATMENT OF PATIENTS OVER 80 YEARS OF AGE - RESULTS OF APROSPECTIVE-STUDY

Objective: Diagnosis and therapy of gynecologic inpatients who were ov er 80 years of age were analyzed with respect to the desired and the a ctual management. Methods: A general assessment protocol for diagnosti c and therapeutic steps which were not carried out in individual cases was drawn up and used for the 96 patients analyzed. The desired thera py corresponded to the ideal management of a 60-year-old patient. Resu lts: In two thirds of the cases, the desired therapy could be given. F or 32 patients, there was a reduction of 5-50%; for only 2 patients on e of >50%. The most frequent deviation from the ideal therapy was for the oncologic patients. Conclusions: Our conclusions agree with those reported in the literature, namely that age alone can not be taken as an argument against standard treatment of a patient with a gynecologic disorder. For patients over 80 years of age, the individual risks and benefits of a particular therapy, especially when surgery is involved , should be carefully considered.