[An analysis of the surgical risk in elderly subjects with neoplasms of the large intestine. A follow-up of 102 consecutive cases].

Today surgeons find that they have to operate with increasing frequency on elderly patients suffering from colorectal cancer. This study examined 102 patients with this pathology. The findings show that age alone is not a contraindication for surgery. On the contrary decisive negative factors include both concomitant pathologies and emergency surgery because it is not possible to correct any pre-existing imbalances before surgery. The overall mortality rate is 9% of which 4% after emergency surgery. It is therefore possible to conclude that elderly patients can undergo radical surgery irrespective of age.