RADICAL HYSTERECTOMY IN PATIENTS 65 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER

Since the percentage of elderly patients in the United States is incre asing, the knowledge of whether radical surgery can be performed on th ese patients with acceptable morbidity and mortality is important. The refore, a retrospective study of elderly patients having radical hyste rectomy was performed. A retrospective case study of all patients over 65 years of age having undergone a radical hysterectomy in one privat e community practice of gynecologic oncology was performed. No patient s between July 1, 1965, and December 31, 1992, were knowingly excluded . All patients were analyzed for preexisting medical conditions, lengt h of postoperative stay, morbidity, and mortality. Sixty-nine patients who fit the above criteria were found. Preexisting medical problems w ere found in 72.5% of the study population. Minor morbidity occurred i n 14.5% of the group, while major morbidity occurred in 10%. There was no mortality. Lengths of hospital stay were significantly different b etween patients 65 to 74 (8.7 days) and over age 75 (10.4 days). In co nclusion, radical hysterectomy is a safe surgical procedure in patient s 65 and over. This is true even in patients 75 and over. Careful preo perative assessment, perioperative monitoring, and meticulous postoper ative care is vital to the success of any major surgery, especially in the older patient. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.