[Role of surgery for lung cancer in elderly patients]

Lung cancer is a leading cause of death in the civilised world. Surgical resection, which play a crucial role in the complex oncological treatment, has to be offered in older ages than it was done before, due to an ageing population. Results of surgical treatment of patients older than 75 years are investigated retrospectively in the present paper. A retrospectively analysis was carried out of 54 from a total of 884 lung resections for primary lung cancer performed for patients older than 75 years between 1995-2005. Twelve of these patients were above 80 years. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to calculate survival and multifactor analysis for the risk factors. Average age was 77.5 years (75-85). Two pneumonectomies, two bilobectomies, 41 lobectomies, seven sublobar resections and two lobectomies with chest wall resections were performed. The average hospital stay was 11.4 days (8-36). Mortality: 7.4% (n = 4), morbidity: 52% (n = 28) including: sputum retention: 43%, arrhythmia 33%, atelectasia: 15%. There were two bronchial stump insufficiencies (4%) and three reoperations were performed (5%). The average follow up was: 32 months and the five year survival 33.7% (median 43 months). Multifactorial analysis show that extended resection, male gender, age above 80 years are risk factors for adverse outcome. Female gender, stage Ia and lobectomy are considered as predictive factors for long survival. We conclude, that with proper patient selection (below ASA3, early stage) and with carefully conducted postoperative care (physiotherapy, monitoring) surgical resection should be offered to elderly lung cancer patients as well.