Radical cystectomy in the elderly patient.

A total of 77 patients 65 or more years old underwent radical cystectomy with urinary diversion for invasive bladder cancer during a 10-year interval. The preoperative medical condition of the patients, operative mortality and morbidity, and preliminary survival data are reviewed by age group. Two-thirds of the patients had previous medical or surgical problems that increased the surgical risk. The over-all mortality rate was 3.9 per cent. Early complications occurred in 31 per cent of the patients, with an increased risk of complication associated with previous illness and major pelvic surgery, and preoperative radiation therapy. The complication rate was not related directly to age, with patients 65 to 69 and more than 75 years old having lower rates than those 70 to 74 years old. The 3-year survival rate free of disease ranged from 58 per cent in the youngest group to 39 per cent in the oldest group, which is comparable to survival statistics for younger patients undergoing cystectomy. Only 5 patients have died of intercurrent illness, while 20 have died of metastatic disease.