OBJECTIVE: There is an increasing number of elderly @entity1 presenting with potentially-resectable @entity358 . The objective of this study is to evaluate the modern perioperative morbidity and mortality in @entity1 undergoing oncologic lung resection and to analyse the trend over a 26-year period in our experience. METHODS: Between 1971 and 1996, 1506 @entity1 underwent lung resection for @entity5 . We reviewed the 30-day perioperative risk in a group of 385 (25.6%) @entity1 aged 70 years and older operated on for intended cure of @entity358 . Operations included 293 (77%) lobectomies, 24 pneumonectomies (6%), 16 bilobectomies (4%) and 52 wedge or segmental resections (13%). The pathology was @entity153 in 89% and @entity3 or other @entity5 in 11% of @entity1 . We compared the 30-day perioperative risk between the elderly group (age 70 or greater) and a cohort of 180 @entity1 (control) 69 years and younger. RESULTS: The mortality for all resections in elderly group was 4.2% (16/385) and was 1.6% for the control group. Mortality in the octogenarian group was 2.8%. Female gender correlated with a decreased risk of @entity204 , with only two of 16 deaths in females (P < 0.005). Overall morbidity was higher in the study than in control @entity1 (34% vs. 25%, n.s.), although major morbidity was similar in both groups (13.2% vs. 13%). Abnormal pulmonary-function testing and positive cardiac history did not correlate with increase overall or specific risk. Pneumonectomy carried a higher risk for @entity204 , with three of 24 deceased (12.5%; P < 0.05). Changes in outcome were analysed over two time periods: the mortality in the early period (1971-1982), 11.1% (8/72), was significantly elevated above the control group, while mortality in the modern period (1983-1994) was not, with a rate of 2.6% (8/313). CONCLUSIONS: In our series, mortality associated with operative treatment for @entity358 in the elderly declined, so age alone no longer appears to be a risk factor. Age remains a risk factor for overall, but not major, morbidity. Pneumonectomy should undertaken cautiously in this age group. Based on this data, functional elderly @entity1 should not be denied curative lung resection based on age alone.

Pulmonary resection for XXXX in the elderly: is age still a risk factor?

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumours', 'malignancy'] @entity358 :: ('MESH:D008171', 'Disease') :: ['lung malignancy'] @entity153 :: ('MESH:D002283', 'Disease') :: ['bronchogenic carcinoma'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastasis'] @entity204 :: ('MESH:D003643', 'Disease') :: ['death']
@entity5 :: (MESH:D009369,Disease) :: ['malignancy']
