Is Cystectomy a Safe Procedure in Elderly Patients with Carcinoma of the Bladder?

Abstract
Often total cystectomy is not advocated in elderly patients for the treatment of carcinoma of the bladder. A group of 25 patients > 70 yr old were reviewed to determine if cystectomy is a reasonable therapeutic alternative in elderly individuals. Since there was satisfactory survival and no immediate operative mortalities elderly patients should not be denied this form of therapy on the basis of age alone. A higher incidence of postoperative complications was noted in patients treated previously with radiation therapy.