General surgery in patients aged 80 years and older.

This study reviews 594 surgical admissions, of patients aged 80 years and older, to departments of general surgery during 1 year. Half of the patients were admitted as emergencies and 60 per cent underwent surgery. The operative mortality rate was 8 per cent and the overall mortality rate for all admissions 9 per cent. The number of complications and the mortality rate after surgery increased in emergency cases and in patients with coexisting disease. Of all admissions, 72 per cent were uncomplicated and in 70 per cent patients could be discharged directly home; such patients do not generally take up beds and are discharged as soon as medical care is no longer indicated. The number of admissions of patients over 80 years of age will increase by about 30 per cent during this decade and, unless additional resources are provided to meet this challenge, new standards must be considered for the distribution of resources and of indications for surgery in both young and old.