This is the major finding of a Mayo Clinic study of 31 men and women 100 years old or older.
Many people believe that old people are fragile and frail and won t tolerate surgery well.
This study shows that notion to be false. Older individuals who have operable diseases or injuries should not be denied surgery because of perceived risks associated with advanced age. Dr. Warner says that recent improvements in drugs and less-invasive surgical techniques have made surgery safer for the elderly. He also notes that, contrary to popular opinion, people who are dismissed from the hospital more quickly often do better following a procedure. They know how many footsteps it is to the bathroom.