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Total gastrectomy for gastric cancer in elderly patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The increased average life expectancy and the changing patterns in gastric carcinoma have resulted in a considerable rise in the number of older patients requiring total gastrectomy. Results of total gastrectomy for gastric cancer in elderly patients are presented.


METHODOLOGY
Between January 1987 and December 1996, 115 patients underwent total gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma. At the time of surgery, 25 (21.8%) patients were older than 70 years. The results achieved in these patients were compared with those observed in 90 younger ones.


RESULTS
The hospital mortality and morbidity rates for the elderly patients were 16% and 56%, respectively; for the younger ones they were 3.3% and 30%, respectively. No difference was seen between the two age groups concerning the average post-operative hospital stay.


CONCLUSIONS
In our series, age was a major determinant with respect to post-operative morbidity and mortality. However, age alone could not be clearly defined as a determining risk factor considering that the accompanying illness and preexisting factors predispose for poor prognosis.