BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of gastrectomy in elderly patients. METHODS: In a historical cohort, variables such as age, site and stage of tumor, associated diseases, morbidity, and mortality were studied. The patients were divided, by age, into two groups and statistical analysis was performed to determine variables related to postoperative complications or death. RESULTS: We studied 160 patients submitted to gastric resection for adenocarcinoma. Mean age of the patients was 60.7 years. Associated diseases, ASA score III or IV, and mortality were significantly higher according to the age. The patients were divided into two groups: those under 65 years (Group I) and those over 65 years (Group II). No statistically significant difference between the groups regarding tumor site and stage, type of resection, and rate of postoperative complications were observed. Hospital mortality was 6.1% in group I and 12.9% in group II. Associated illness was the main factor related to death in this series in the univariate analysis (P<0.03). On multivariate analysis, the only significant risk factor was a higher ASA score. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that elderly patients with gastric cancer have an increased risk of postoperative death. However, age itself could not be identified as an isolated factor, accompanying illness and physiologic conditions seemed to be more predictive.
Gastrectomy; Gastric Neoplasms; Stomach; Postoperative complications; Mortality; Aged
