A report of forty-four instances of pancreaticoduodenal resection in patients more than seventy years of age.

Between January 1970 and December 1990, 223 patients underwent pancreaticoduodenal resection for pancreatic or periampullary tumors. Forty-four of these patients were 70 years of age or older and 179 patients were less than 70 years of age. In the older group, 27 patients were operated upon after 1986. The overall operative mortality rate was 9.0 percent and 2.5 percent during the last five years. The overall operative mortality rate was 4.5 percent in patients more than 70 years of age and 10 percent in those less than 70 years of age. The overall operative morbidity rate was 35 percent; 36 percent in patients more than 70 years of age and 35 percent in those less than 70 years of age. Survival was related to tumor histologic factors. For carcinoma of the pancreas, the survival rate at five years was 17 percent in patients more than 70 years of age and 19 percent in patients less than 70 years of age. For the ampullary carcinoma, the survival rate at five years was 38 percent in patients more than 70 years of age and 45 percent in patients less than 70 years of age. It can be concluded that, in a selected group, age is not a limiting factor for pancreaticoduodenal resection.