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. 2018 Mar;100(3):172-177.
doi: 10.1308/rcsann.2017.0203. Epub 2018 Jan 24.

Outcomes of surgery in patients aged ≥90 years in the general surgical setting

A Sudlow  1 , H Tuffaha  1 , A T Stearns  1 , I A Shaikh  1
Affiliations

Outcomes of surgery in patients aged ≥90 years in the general surgical setting

A Sudlow et al. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2018 Mar.

Abstract

Introduction An increasing proportion of the population is living into their nineties and beyond. These high risk patients are now presenting more frequently to both elective and emergency surgical services. There is limited research looking at outcomes of general surgical procedures in nonagenarians and centenarians to guide surgeons assessing these cases. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted of all patients aged ≥90 years undergoing elective and emergency general surgical procedures at a tertiary care facility between 2009 and 2015. Vascular, breast and endocrine procedures were excluded. Patient demographics and characteristics were collated. Primary outcomes were 30-day and 90-day mortality rates. The impact of ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) grade, operation severity and emergency presentation was assessed using multivariate analysis. Results Overall, 161 patients (58 elective, 103 emergency) were identified for inclusion in the study. The mean patient age was 92.8 years (range: 90-106 years). The 90-day mortality rates were 5.2% and 19.4% for elective and emergency procedures respectively (p=0.013). The median survival was 29 and 19 months respectively (p=0.001). Emergency and major gastrointestinal operations were associated with a significant increase in mortality. Patients undergoing emergency major colonic or upper gastrointestinal surgery had a 90-day mortality rate of 53.8%. Conclusions The risk for patients aged over 90 years having an elective procedure differs significantly in the short term from those having emergency surgery. In selected cases, elective surgery carries an acceptable mortality risk. Emergency surgery is associated with a significantly increased risk of death, particularly after major gastrointestinal resections.

Keywords: Emergency; Mortality; Nonagenarians; Outcomes; Surgery.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Kaplan–Meier survival curve showing the effect of ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) grade on survival
Figure 2
Figure 2
Kaplan–Meier survival curve showing the effect of operative group on survival
Figure 3
Figure 3
Kaplan–Meier survival curve showing the effect of mode of admission on survival
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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