Gastric cancer in the elderly

Abstract

Recent studies have reported an increase in the number of old patients with gastric cancer due to increased of life expectancy. This group is naturally associated with other diseases such as cardiovascular. Loco regional control of gastric carcinoma through limphadenectomy remains the best option for the treatment of gastric cancer. In elderly population, the benefits of radical surgical treatment have been correlated to higher morbid-mortality rates of this treatment. The authors reviewed the prospective database and studied patients over 76 years of age who underwent surgical treatment for gastric carcinoma. From a total of 579 patients with gastric cancer admitted in our hospital between 1997 and 2001, a group of 66 were the subjected of this analysis. It was found that morbidity rates reached 37,9% and postoperative mortality was 12,1%. The total gastrectomy was the surgery with higher morbidity and mortality. A careful selection of patients, treatment of co-existent diseases, careful peri and postoperative procedures, proved gastric resection produces good results in elderly patients and surgical treatment is justifiable.