[Complications in gerontologic surgery: role of nutritional status and serum albumin]

Surgery in the elderly is not a challenge anymore. Yet, malnutrition stays one of the principal adverse factors in surgery, particularly in the aged. In ten months, 250 patients aged 65 years or older (mean: 75) have been operated in our general surgery department, with 25% of major complications and a mortality 3.6%. Nutritional state was evaluated on a clinical basis and by measurement of the serum albumin level. In case of malnutrition, morbidity was multiplied by 2, mortality by 3. These results emphasize the necessity for identification of this high risk population and the need to correct their nutritional state preoperatively by hyperalimentation.