[Surgical treatment of rectal cancer in middle-aged and elderly patients].

This article presents results of surgical treatment of 439 patients with cancer of the rectum, including 310 (70.6%) patients older than 60. The transabdominoperineal extirpation of the rectum was made in 48.1% of the elderly and senile patients, the anterior (transabdominal) resection--in 33.6%, Gartman's operation--in 12.6%, transanal excision of the tumor--in 11 patients. Lethal outcomes after the surgical interventions was 4.8%.