[Lung surgery in elderly patients--an increased risk?].

During 1990 to 1994, 180 pulmonary resections and 7 exploratory thoracotomies were performed and retrospectively analyzed for age-dependent hospital morbidity and mortality. Out of 141 men and 47 women (average age 60.4 +/- 11.9 years), 45 patients were 70 years or older (median 73 years). Mean ASA classification values were similar between patients under 70 years of age and the elderly (2.17 +/- 0.72), mean FEV1 was reduced in the group of old aged (2.45 +/- 0.61 vs. 2.71 +/- 0.82). No difference could be found in hospital morbidity of septuagenarians and octogenarians compared to younger patients (> or = 70 years: 40%; < 70 years: 40.8%), although hospital mortality increased in the elderly (11.1% vs. 3.5% in younger) with lethal cases presenting a higher preoperative risk rate (ASA 2.75 vs. 2.18). In conclusion, we did not experience an increased overall rate of complications after open lung surgery in the elderly, however, the risk of mortality increased in senescent patients with the appearance of a complication.