[Surgery of digestive system cancers in patients over 80 years of age]. / Chirurgie des cancers digestifs chez les patients de plus de 80 ans.

ABSTRACT

231 patients over 80 years old were operated at the Clinique de chirurgie digestive of Geneva University Hospital between 1981 and 1990 for a malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. The following parameters were studied intra- and postoperative morbidity and mortality, duration and quality of survival. Surgery proved valid in this age group given its low mortality (15%). Postoperative morbidity (44%) did not prolong hospital stay, since 90% of all patients were discharged within one month of surgery. Following surgery, quality of life was excellent 75% of patients returned home, and 80% were better off than pre-operatively. Such operations provide better results in term of mortality and survival when performed on an elective basis and curatively.