[Results in intensive care of older patients (author's transl)]

An increasing number of old on senile patients now submit to major surgery and intensive therapy for these patients is often indicated. The development in medicine has led to very good results being obtained in many of these cases. Patients this age-group may have pre-existing injuries, organ changes and restricted abilities to compensate, which means that when certain complications follow one must examine carefully the indication for continuing intensive therapy, in order to avoid needless and painful life-prolonging measures. Our own experiences with 54 patients are discussed.