Cardiac operation in patients older than 70 years

To clarify the predictors of operative risk in the elderly, preoperative clinical features and postoperative short term outcome were retrospectively evaluated in 328 consecutive patients. Patients underwent coronary artery bypass or valvular surgery from July 1988 to December 1990 in our hospital: 78 patients were 70 years or older (elderly group) and 250 were younger than 70 years old (control group). Preoperative renal and respiratory function were slightly depressed in the elderly group than in the control group. Prolonged ventilatory support and the administration of inotropic agent were required in some elderly patients with renal or respiratory dysfunction. Neurological complications occurred more frequently in the elderly group than in the control group. Prolonged ventilatory support was needed in almost all the elderly patients with neurological complications. The operative mortality rate was similar in the two patient groups. In contrast, the hospital mortality rate was significantly higher in the elderly group than in the control group. The main causes of the higher hospital mortality in the elderly group was pulmonary infection and sepsis. These results suggest that the prolonged intensive care induces lethal infection and high hospital mortality in the elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery.     

Esophagectomy for carcinoma of the esophagus in the elderly: results of current surgical management.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the risk of esophagectomy in the elderly compared with younger patients and to determine whether results of esophagectomy in the elderly have improved in recent years. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: An increased life expectancy has led to more elderly patients presenting with carcinoma of the esophagus in recent years. Esophagectomy for carcinoma of the esophagus is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and advanced age is often considered a relative contraindication to esophagectomy despite advances in modern surgical practice. METHODS: The perioperative outcome and long-term survival of 167 elderly patients (70 years or more) with esophagectomy for carcinoma of the esophagus were compared with findings in 570 younger patients with esophagectomy in the period 1982 to 1996. Changes in perioperative outcome and survival between 1982 to 1989 and 1990 to 1996 were separately analyzed. RESULTS: The resection rate in the elderly was 48% (167/345), lower than the 65% (570/874) resection rate in younger patients (p < 0.001). There were significantly more preoperative risk factors and postoperative medical complications in the elderly, but no significant differences were observed in surgical complications. The 30-day mortality rate was higher in the elderly (7.2%) than in younger patients (3.0%) (p = 0.02), but the hospital mortality rate was not significantly different in the elderly (18.0%) and younger age groups (14.4%) (p = 0.27). The long-term survival after curative resection in elderly patients was worse than younger patients (p = 0.01). However, when deaths from unrelated medical conditions were excluded from analysis, survival was similar between the two age groups (p = 0.23). A comparison of data for the periods 1982 to 1989 and 1990 to 1996 revealed that the resection rate had increased from 44% to 54% in the elderly, with significantly fewer postoperative complications and lower 30-day and hospital mortality rates. Long-term survival has also improved, although this has not reached a statistically significant level. CONCLUSIONS: With current surgical management, esophagectomy for carcinoma of the esophagus can be carried out with acceptable risk in the elderly, but intensive perioperative support is required. The improved results of esophagectomy in the elderly in recent years are attributed to increased experience and better perioperative management. Long-term survival was similar to that of younger patients, excluding deaths caused by unrelated medical conditions.     

The stentless freestyle bioprosthesis: impact of age over 80 years on quality of life, perioperative, and mid-term outcome

Abstract Background: The steadily increasing life expectancy of the population in the Western World, together with the progress in noninvasive diagnostic methods and operating techniques lead to an increase in aortic valve surgery in elderly people. Aim of the study: Is there an increased risk of adverse perioperative and mid‐term outcome for octogenarians and do they benefit from aortic valve replacement (AVR) with stentless bioprostheses?Methods: Between 1996 and 2002, 503 patients older than 60 years underwent AVR with a stentless Freestyle bioprosthesis. Seventy‐six of them were older than 80 years. The risk of operative mortality, perioperative complications, valve‐related morbidity for octogenarians was determined by multivariate logistic regression. Results: In general, risk‐adjusted analyses did not reveal an increased risk of operative mortality (p = 0.4), postoperative atrial fibrillation (p = 0.2), prolonged ventilation (p = 0.5), prolonged stay in the intensive care unit (p = 0.3), or mid‐term valve‐related morbidity as prosthetic valve endocarditis (p = 0.2), reoperation (p = 0.4), bleeding events (p = 0.1), and stroke (p = 0.8) for octogenarians. Continuously increasing age was an independent risk factor for postoperative neurological complications (OR = 1.8 per 10 years, p = 0.04). Quality of life was equal to or better than the general population of the same age. Median survival time of octogenarians was 5.2 ± 0.5 years. Conclusions: Except for postoperative neurological complications, octogenarians receiving stentless bioprostheses had no increased risk of adverse perioperative and mid‐term outcome in comparison to younger patients. As quality of life and life expectancy after AVR with stentless valves were equal to the general population, AVR with stentless bioprostheses should not be withheld from octogenarians.     

区域阻滞麻醉与老年患者术后神经系统功能、病死率关系的研究进展

背景 区域阻滞麻醉应用于老年患者手术日益增多,其对老年患者术后神经系统功能、病死率的影响有待总结. 目的 通过文献综述,分析区域阻滞麻醉对老年患者术后神经系统、病死率的影响. 内容 讨论区域阻滞麻醉与老年患者术后神经系统功能,包括术后谵妄、认知功能障碍、脑卒中以及与病死率之间的关系. 趋向 区域阻滞麻醉可以减少老年患者术后肺部并发症,减少术后早期认知功能障碍,与全身麻醉相比,具有一定优势.区域阻滞麻醉是否能降低老年患者术后病死率、心血管并发症发生率、谵妄发生率、围手术期脑卒中发生率尚有待于进一步研究.     

高龄患者心脏围手术期手术风险分析

目的 探讨高龄心脏病患者围手术期特点及心脏手术的风险。方法 选取2007年1月－2011年6月不同类型心脏手术病人255例,分为A组（≥70岁）55例,B组（＜70岁）200例。分析两组间病人术前危险因素、手术策略及围术期监护的特点,对比两组间术后并发症及预后。结果 术前危险因素中,原发性高血压、急性冠脉综合征、肾功能不全在A组占比例显著高于B组（P<0.05）, EuroSCORE评分A组(5.56±2.26)高于B组(2.14±2.21, P<0.001）。术中体外循环时间A组(102.61±38.36min)显著短于B组(119.66±47.57min, P<0.05）, 主动脉阻断时间A组(63.57±27.08min)显著短于B组(79.46±35.29min, P<0.05）。术后A组肺部感染发生率,急性肾损伤发生率,呼吸机使用时间,ICU停留时间均高于B组（P<0.05）; 术后脑梗塞发生率,心律失常发生率,总引流量,血管活性药物使用情况及住院死亡率两组间无显著差异。结论 准确识别高龄患者围术期危险因素,制定个性化策略,缩短体外循环时间,积极预防并正确处理围术期并发症,可有效降低高龄患者群体心脏手术的风险。     

Clinical predictors of mortality from infective endocarditis

A cohort study with prospective data collection was conducted to determine which risk factors and outcome variables are statistically significant clinical predictors of mortality from infective endocarditis. A study was performed from an eleven-year, hospitalization cohort (N=11,230) in which the data were collected prospectively. The study examined 21 potential risk factors and 14 outcome variables. The risk factors were categorized into these various groups: patient factors, cardiac factors, co-morbidities, operative factors, infectious factors, and complications. The outcome variables were categorized into operative factors, infectious factors, and complications. Inclusion criteria included patients with endocarditis (N=87). Longer operative time, operative complications, and postoperative complications. Overall mortality was 11.5 percent (N=10). Endocarditis patients who died were significantly older (p=0.023) and had a longer pump time (p=0.017) than those who survived. Endocarditis patients who died were more likely to experience an unstable hemodynamic status (p=0.012). There was a significant difference between survival and non-survival of patients with endocarditis on nine outcome variables. They were more likely to require a re-operation for bleeding (p=0.034). Renal complications (p=0.016), neurological complications (p=0.004), pulmonary complications (p=0.001), intra-operative complications (p=0.035), and IAPB (p<0.001) were all more likely to occur in endocarditis patients who died. There are risk factors that serve as predictors of mortality from infectious endocarditis. These include age greater than 65 years, longer pump time, and unstable hemodynamic status. Outcome variables that reflected significant mortality included operative complications and post-operative complications. These factors may identify those patients with infective endocarditis eligible for more aggressive treatment.     

“快通道”外科理念指导下腹腔镜手术治疗老年结直肠癌的临床研究

目的:比较"快通道"外科指导下腹腔镜手术与单纯应用腹腔镜手术及应用"快通道"外科理念的常规开腹手术治疗65岁以上老年结直肠癌患者的有效性、安全性,评估"快通道"外科理念联合腹腔镜手术促进老年结直肠癌患者术后恢复的协同作用。方法:将94例65岁以上老年结直肠癌患者随机分为开腹(open surgery,OP)组、开腹+快通道(open surgery plus fast-track surgery,OPFT)组、腹腔镜(laparoscopy surgery,LAP)组及腹腔镜+快通道(laparoscopy surgery plus fast-track surgery,LAPFT)组。比较患者基线特征、手术效果、术后安全性指标。结果:LAP组与LAPFT组在术中出血量、术后排气时间、术后排便时间、术后阿片类镇痛药物使用时间方面均优于OP组、OPFT组(P0.05),而手术时间明显延长(P0.01)。OPFT组术后首次排便时间、术后阿片类镇痛药物使用时间、住院时间短于OP组(P0.05)。LAP组、LAPFT组术后切口感染率明显低于OP组、OPFT组(P0.01),其他并发症发生率及术后30 d内死亡率各组相比差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:对于老年结直肠癌患者,腹腔镜术中应用"快通道"外科指导的围手术期处理可加快术后康复且不增加术后短期并发症发生率,是安全、有效的治疗措施。     

老年患者主动脉瓣置换术临床研究

目的探讨老年心脏瓣膜病患者施行主动脉瓣手术的临床效果。方法连续选择81例,年龄>60岁的主动脉瓣手术患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。建立logistic回归模型,分析围术期各个相关因素对于治疗效果的影响。结果早期死亡8例,病死率为9.88%。再次手术、心功能NYHA分级、体外循环时间长是影响患者术后死亡的危险因素。术后发生并发症31例,主要包括:低心排出量综合征、多脏器功能不全综合征、肺部感染、急性肾衰竭、术后呼吸功能不全。结论对症状严重而并发症少的老年心脏瓣膜病患者进行主动脉瓣手术是安全、有效的。     

Early postoperative complications of pediatric liver transplantation: experience at one center

To evaluate the postoperative complications within the first month among 20 pediatric liver transplant recipients between April 1990 and March 2003 we retrospectively studied their medical charts to gather demographic data; primary diagnosis; operative duration; perioperative transfusions; time to extubation; length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay; mortality; perioperative laboratory values; and postoperative complications including respiratory, infections, renal, neurological, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) complications. Ten male and ten female patients of mean age 8 +/- 4 years had a mean operative duration, time to extubation, and length of stay in the ICU of 12.1 +/- 2.3 hours, 11.1 +/- 15.0 hours, and 7.2 +/- 5.5 days, respectively. The most frequent postoperative complication was respiratory (n = 14, 70%), followed by infections (n = 13, 65%), renal (n = 8, 40%), neurological (n = 7, 35%), cardiovascular (n = 4, 20%), and GIT (n = 4, 20%) infections. The overall mortality rate was 25% (n = 5). Compared with patients who survived, those who died displayed significantly lower perioperative platelet counts (P <.05), as well as a significantly higher incidence of postoperative neurological disorders (P =.031), and cardiovascular complications (P =.032).     

Thoracic aortic endografting is the treatment of choice for elderly patients with thoracic aortic disease

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of age on outcomes following thoracic aortic endografting. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Endograft therapy for thoracic aortic disease is rapidly evolving. This therapy is less invasive, and elderly patients with significant medical comorbidities are more frequently referred for endografting. We hypothesized that elderly patients over the age of 75 have worse outcomes after thoracic endografting than patients under the age of 75. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of the first 42 patients who underwent endografting for thoracic aortic pathology. Charts were reviewed for demographics, comorbid conditions, perioperative complications and death, endoleaks, and results at 3, 6, and 12 months. Preexisting medical conditions were also evaluated to determine if any patient characteristics were associated with adverse outcomes. Perioperative morbidity included cardiac, pulmonary, renal, hemorrhagic, and neurologic (stroke and spinal cord injury) complications. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were under the age of 75, and 18 patients were 75 or older. Baseline demographics and comorbidities were similar between the 2 groups. There were no differences in operative time, length of stay, perioperative mortality, or the incidence of significant complications between the 2 age groups. Gender, however, was associated with a statistically significant difference between the occurrence of complications, with more women experiencing complications than men (P = 0.026, relative risk = 2.36). One patient (age >75 years) in the entire cohort of 42 (2.4%) suffered a spinal cord injury. At 3 months, endoleaks were more common in the older age group (P = 0.059). CONCLUSION: Endograft therapy for thoracic aortic disease can be performed safely in elderly patients with no significant increase in perioperative morbidity or mortality compared with younger patients. Female gender is associated with a higher likelihood of perioperative complications, regardless of age. The overall incidence of spinal cord injury is very low. Endograft therapy, when anatomically possible, is the treatment of choice for thoracic aortic disease in elderly patients.     

Outcomes of Surgery for Mid and Distal Rectal Cancer in the Elderly

Background This study aimed to evaluate the surgical strategies, operative results, and oncological outcomes of elderly patients who underwent curative resection for mid and distal rectal cancer. Comparison was made with patients of younger age. Study Design Of the 612 patients who underwent curative resection for rectal cancer, 133 were older than 75 years of age. Comparisons were made between the young and elderly patients in the aspects of operative strategies, operative results, and long-term outcomes. Results Resection resulting in a permanent end colostomy was performed in 96 patients (15.7%), and there was no difference between young and elderly patients. There was a female predominance in the elderly group. Elderly patients also had a higher incidence of comorbid medical diseases, especially cardiovascular and neurological diseases. The operative time, blood loss, and incidence of intraoperative complications did not differ in the two groups. However, significantly fewer elderly patients underwent adjuvant radiation and/or chemotherapy. The overall 30-day mortality was 1.14%. There was no difference between the elderly patients and younger patients in hospital mortality (P = 0.178). The complication rates of the elderly and young patients were 36.8% and 30.1%, respectively (P = 0.141). Comparison between the individual complications in the elderly and young patients revealed significantly more cardiovascular complications in the elderly patients. With the median follow up of the surviving patients of 45.1 months, the overall 5-year survival of the elderly and younger groups was 47.7% and 70.1%, respectively (P < 0.001). The 5-year cancer-specific survival was 75.4% and 67.5% in the young and elderly patients, respectively (P = 0.061). Conclusions Curative resection for mid and distal rectal cancer for the elderly can be performed safely with the same strategies of sphincter preservation used for younger patients. The postoperative complications and the 5-year cancer-specific survival rates were similar to those of younger patients.     

Is carotid endarterectomy in octogenarians more dangerous than in younger patients?

AIM: The risk for developing stroke increases with the advancing age, peaking over age 80. In elderly patients, carotid endarterectomy may provide prophylaxis against stroke. Aim of our study was to compare patients 80 years or older with patients younger than 80 undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Endpoints were perioperative mortality and morbidity. METHODS: From January 1996 to December 2002, 1 659 patients underwent a 1 733 carotid endarterectomy for a symptomatic or asymptomatic significant carotid lesion. Among them, 125 patients were 80 years or older. We analyzed death and stroke rate from cerebrovascular accidents, TIA as well as non cerebrovascular complications and death rate postoperatively and in the long term follow-up. The Pearson's chi-squared(2) test was used for the statistical analysis on risk factors, morbidity and mortality. The Log rank test was used for cumulative stroke-free and survival rates between the 2 groups (level of confidence p<0.05). RESULTS: Risk factors were similar in both groups. No statistical difference was observed in the stroke, TIA, mortality and stroke free rates between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study show that perioperative and postoperative mortality and morbidity as well as the long-term stroke-free rate does not differ significantly in patients 80 years or older compared to patients younger than 80 undergoing carotid endarterectomy.     

Esophagectomy for carcinoma: impact of age on clinical results and survival

Advances in perioperative management have allowed more and more elderly patients to undergo major surgery with postoperative morbidity and mortality rates similar to those of younger individuals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of age on the clinical outcome and long-term survival of patients with oesophageal cancer undergoing oesophagectomy. Eight hundred and seventy-five patients with oesophageal carcinoma were divided into two groups: A (n = 393) aged > or = 65 years, and B (n = 482) aged < 65 years. One hundred and forty-nine (38%) patients in group A underwent surgery compared to 263 (55%) in group B (P < 0.01). Postoperative mortality and the prevalence of anastomotic leak and respiratory complications were similar in both groups. There was, however, a higher prevalence of cardiovascular complications in group A (13% versus 3%, P < 0.01). Five-year survival was about 35% in both groups. In conclusion, advanced age should not be considered a contra-indication to oesophagectomy for carcinoma, since the long-term survival of elderly patients undergoing resection is similar to that of younger ones.     

Mortality, morbidity, and cost-accounting related to coronary artery bypass graft surgery in the elderly

The purpose of this study was to document early mortality, perioperative complication rate, duration of hospitalization, and costs related to coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in the elderly. Arbitrarily, elderly patients were defined by age greater than or equal to 65 years; younger patients were less than or equal to 60 years old. A detailed list of specific perioperative complications was analyzed. Early (30-day) mortality was similar between groups, while 120-day mortality was higher among elderly compared with younger patients (7.6% versus 1.3%; p = 0.05). The number of elderly patients with 1 or more complications was also higher than among the younger patients (62% versus 43%; p = 0.05). When the incidences of atrial arrhythmias and transient psychoses were considered minor complications and excluded from consideration, the incidence of major complications was higher in the elderly: 41 major events among 76 younger surviving patients compared with 89 major complications in 61 older surviving patients (p = 0.001). Time spent in the intensive care unit and the duration of postoperative hospitalization were also greater in the elderly (p = 0.01 and p = 0.001, respectively). Finally, the elderly group incurred greater costs than the younger patients (p = 0.03). The likelihood of increased perioperative morbidity in elderly patients is documented in this study. Also, it appears that the increased frequency of complications in elderly patients is associated with a longer hospital stay and greater financial expense. Consequently, the careful preoperative evaluation of these patients, including cautious patient selection, assumes greater importance. After CABG procedures, the highly symptomatic elderly patient may experience dramatic relief of symptoms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Laparoscopic vs open splenectomy.

HYPOTHESIS: Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) provides health benefits to patients compared with open splenectomy (OS) in terms of perioperative morbidity, complications, and patient recuperation. DESIGN: Prospective operative and outcome data of LS patients were compared with those of OS patients (historical controls). SETTING: Data were gathered, and patients were evaluated and treated at 2 McMaster University teaching hospitals in Hamilton, Ontario, and at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, also a teaching hospital. PATIENTS: From January 1, 1994, through October 31, 1998, a total of 210 patients were studied. Of them, 147 patients from 3 university teaching hospitals underwent LS. These patients were matched with 63 OS patients according to age, sex, spleen weight, indication for splenectomy, and preoperative morbidity score. INTERVENTIONS: A total of 147 patients evaluated for elective splenectomy underwent LS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Spleen weight, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, perioperative complications, and cost. RESULTS: No significant difference in mean spleen weight was found between groups. Mean operative time was significantly longer for LS, but intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower. Mean postoperative hospital stay was significantly lower and perioperative complications significantly fewer for LS patients. Mean cost for LS with no complications was slightly lower than for OS. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with OS, the lateral approach to LS takes longer to perform but results in reduced blood loss, shorter postoperative stay, and fewer complications. Mean weighted cost of LS is lower than OS at the study institutions. A prospective, randomized, controlled trial comparing these techniques is planned.     

A multicenter study of the morbidity of radical cystectomy in select elderly patients with bladder cancer

PURPOSE: We evaluated the morbidity of radical cystectomy for invasive bladder cancer in select patients older than 75 years using recent data from 2 academic hospitals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 73 radical cystectomies performed from January 1995 to June 2000 in patients 75 to 89 years old (median age 79.3). Cases were categorized according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification with a score of 2 in 41, 3 in 30 and 4 in 2. External urinary diversion was performed in 51 cases and an ileal neobladder was constructed in 22. We evaluated the incidence and type of complications, clinical outcome, and postoperative care unit and hospital stay. Statistical analysis was done using the chi-square and Student t tests. RESULTS: Median operative time was 263 minutes (range 95 to 451). The perioperative mortality rate was 2.7%. The intraoperative, early and late postoperative complication rates were 38.4%, 46.5% and 16.4%, respectively. Three reoperations (4.1%) were necessary. The most common early complications were pyelonephritis in 12.3% of cases, disorientation in 10.9%, pneumonia in 8.2% and prolonged ileus in 12.3%. The most common late complications were ureteroileal anastomotic stenosis in 5 cases and hernia in 3. Median postoperative care unit and hospital stays were 12 and 34 days, respectively. At a median followup of 14.4 months (range 6 to 74) the overall mortality rate was 31.5%. Hospital stay was significantly higher in patients with complications. The incidence of complications was similar in the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the aggressive surgical management of bladder cancer in select elderly patients. A rigorous multidisciplinary team approach can provide acceptable perioperative morbidity.     

Pancreaticoduodenectomy can be safely performed in the elderly

Background

Although pancreaticoduodenectomy has been recognized in the past for its severe complications, improvements in operative methods and perioperative management have made it a safe procedure. Therefore, pancreaticoduodenectomy can be performed in elderly patients, and our experience and outcomes are described in this report.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated 142 patients in whom pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed without stenting tubes during pancreaticojejunostomy. The patients were classified into two groups: (A) those older and (B) younger than 75 years. The outcomes, including preoperative characteristics, intraoperative characteristics, postoperative complications and mortality, are herein reported. Continuous variables were compared using Student’s t test and the Chi-square test.

Results

There were no differences between groups A and B in terms of sex, operative time, amount of blood loss, performance status, soft pancreas rate, disease distribution and operative procedure. Comorbidities in groups A and B were statistically different. Regarding the preoperative status, the elderly patients exhibited lower serum albumin and hemoglobin levels than the younger patients. There were no differences in mortality (0 vs. 0 %), morbidity (24.3 vs. 29.5 %, p = 0.362), postoperative hospital days or major complications such as pancreatic fistula development, delayed gastric emptying, intra-abdominal abscess development, biliary fistula formation and postpancreatectomy hemorrhage.

Conclusions

Pancreaticoduodenectomy can be safely performed in elderly as well as younger patients.     

Perioperative Complications of Breast Cancer Surgery in Elderly Women (≥80 Years)

Purpose

There has been much controversy regarding the optimal management of breast cancer in very elderly women. Some clinicians are reluctant to offer surgical treatment for women older than aged 80 years because of the assumed higher operative risk associated with advanced age. This study was designed to investigate the perioperative complications of breast cancer surgery in women of this age group.

Methods

Data were reviewed of all women ≥80 years of age who underwent breast cancer surgery at a university clinic during the period 1990–2005. Symptoms, comorbidities, preoperative risk assessment, type of operation, postoperative histological diagnosis, hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality were documented and analyzed.

Results

During this 16-year period, 140 operations for breast cancer were performed in 129 women. The majority of the patients (37.9%) underwent a modified radical mastectomy, 32.1% underwent a simple mastectomy, 24.3% underwent breast-conserving therapy, and 5.7% underwent an axillary lymph node dissection. Complications occurred in 37.1% of the cohort: 31.4% were minor complications and only 5.7% were major. Intraoperative morbidity was 18.6% and postoperative morbidity was 20%. Late complications occurred in 5% of patients. The most common complications were associated with the wound region (50%). The perioperative mortality in this group of elderly women was zero.

Conclusions

Breast cancer surgery has acceptable perioperative morbidity and mortality in women aged ≥80 years. Surgery is the cornerstone of breast cancer treatment and should be offered as first-line treatment for all patients regardless of their age.     

Early Outcome Following Hepatic Resection in Patients Older Than 80?Years of Age

Background  We aimed to study the early outcome of patients 80 years of age and older undergoing liver resection and to compare the results with the outcomes of patients younger than 80 years of age. Methods  All 350 consecutive patients undergoing hepatic resections from 2004 April to 2008 October were included. Patients were divided into two groups: 80 years of age and older (group I; n = 43) and less than 80 years of age (group II; n = 307). Preoperative clinicopathological features, intraoperative factors, in-hospital mortality, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, operative mortality, morbidity, and prognosis after discharge were analyzed and compared between groups I and II. Results  There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the indication for hepatic resection. Hepatitis viral status was significantly different between groups: patients without hepatitis B or C viral infection were more common in group I than in group II. Regarding preoperative liver function, serum levels of albumin were significantly lower in group I than in group II. Although the operative time was significantly shorter in group I than in group II, no difference was found between groups regarding such operative factors as type of hepatectomy, blood loss, and rate of blood transfusion. After elimination of 16 patients with extrahepatic bile duct resection and reconstruction, no difference existed between the two groups in operative time. There was no postoperative mortality nor in-hospital mortality in group I; in group II one postoperative death (0.3%) and two in-hospital deaths (0.6%) were recorded. There was no difference between groups in the incidence of morbidity and early prognosis after discharge. Conclusions  The results indicate that hepatic resection for elderly patients over 80 can be safely performed given careful patient selection.     

Cardiac anesthesia and surgery in geriatric patients

The average age of US population is steadily increasing, with more than 15 million people aged 80 and older. Coronary artery disease and degenerative cardiovascular diseases are particularly prevalent in this population. Consequently, an increasing number of elderly patients are referred for surgical intervention. Advanced age is associated with decreased physiologic reserve and significant comorbidity. Thorough preoperative assessment, identification of the risk factors for perioperative morbidity and mortality, and optimal preparation are critical in these patients. Age-related changes in comorbidities and altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics impacts anesthetic management, perioperative monitoring, postoperative care, and outcome. This article updates the age-related changes in organ subsystems relevant to cardiac anesthesia, perioperative issues, and intraoperative management. Early and late operative outcome in octogenarians undergoing cardiac surgery are reviewed. The data clearly indicate that no patient group is "too old" for cardiac surgery and that excellent outcomes can be achieved in selected group of elderly patients.