Major gynecologic surgery in the elderly female 65 years of age and older

A total of 185 cases were reviewed of major gynecologic surgery performed upon women 65 years of age and older from 1970 to 1973 at a 350 bed community hospital. Each private staff physician operated upon his private patient. There were 112 vaginal operations performed, mostly for pelvic relaxation problems, and 73 abdominal operations. Forty-two patients had surgery for cancer. There were nine postoperative complications and only two deaths. It can be concluded from this study that the elderly female can tolerate major gynecologic surgery very well in a modern-day hospital setting.