[Benefits and risk of resection of liver metastases in elderly patients].

Between 1986 und 1995 we performed 60 hepatic resections in 52 patients aged over 70 years for liver metastases of different primary tumours. The results were comparable regarding morbidity, mortality and long-term prognosis to the group of 176 patients under the age of 70 undergoing a total of 210 hepatic resections for metastases during the same time period. Thus liver resections for metastases can be performed with tolerable risks even in aged patients; postoperative mortality is independent of the patients' age and is due to the extent of resection; the survival rate is mainly influenced by radical resection.