Age as a Prognostic Factor for Complications of Major Head and Neck Surgery

Abstract
The number of elderly people in the United States has risen almost exponentially from 3.1 million in 1900 to 34.7 million in 2000 and continues to do so to a projected 69.4 million persons older than 65 years in 2030.1 This trend results in greater numbers of elderly patients requiring major head and neck surgical procedures.