Digestive system surgery in octogenarians

: Between October 1, 1977 and June 30, 1983, 139 G.I. tract operations were performed in patients over 80 years-old. 45,3% were post-operatively admitted to the I.C.U.; the criteria for admission were emergency surgical interventions, the type and duration of the operation. The operative mortality was 15,8%. Contributory factors were the type of the intervention, its curative nature and the necessity for post-operative reanimation. The urgent nature of the intervention as well as the histology of the lesion had no bearing on the mortality. Local complications were noted in 34,5% of the cases and were mainly superficial and deep wound infections. General complications, mainly involving the cardio-pulmonary and urinary tract systems, occurred in 68,3% of the cases. Morbidity was mainly associated with the timing of the intervention.