EMERGENCY COLORECTAL SURGERY - DOES AGE I NFLUENCE THE OUTCOME

Objective: To evaluate the influence of age on the morbi-mortality aft er non-elective colorectal surgery. Design: Retrospective analysis. Su bjects: 150 consecutive patients who underwent non-elective colorectal surgery between 1986 and 1992 [65 patients aged under 70 years (Group I)] and 85 patients aged 70 years or over (Group II)]. Results: Using multiple regression analysis we have found: 1) Mortality is determine d by the presence of associated risk factors (p<0.001 tv=4.11), the pr esence of peritonitis (p<0.05 tv=2.08) and by the admission-operation interval (p<0.05 tv=2.10). 2) Overall morbidity increases with age (p< 0.01, tv=3.22) and the benign nature of the colorectal disease (p<0.05 , tv=2.00). Conclusion: Age does not influence mortality in non-electi ve colorectal surgery even though it is a determinant risk factor in m orbidity increase.