Mortality in Geriatric Surgery

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Abstract
The postoperative mortality of 17,199 patients of whom approximately 20% were aged 70 yr or more was studied. The primary mortality of patients aged 70 or more in major operations was 9.2%. In emergency operations, the mortality was 36.8%, in elective surgery, 7.8%. Pulmonary embolism was the cause of death in 33%, cardiac collapse in 11% and the primary illness in 9%. The mortality of patients with mental diseases was 45%; of diabetics, 26%, and of cardiac patients, 17%. Of cardiac patients, 39% died of pulmonary embolism. Of all deaths, 26% occurred during the first 3 postoperative days, and 35% between the 4th-7th postoperative day. In operations lasting more than 2 h, the mortality was 36%, in those lasting < 2 h, 7.5%. Macrodex (Dextran 70) infusions during high-risk operations decreased the incidence of lethal pulmonary embolism.

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