[Evaluation of the operative risk of gastric tumor surgery at an advanced age. Retrospective study]

A retrospective study was carried out in 41 over-70 year-olds who had been operated on for gastric cancer in 1984-86 at the General Surgery Division of Imola to see if age is an unfavourable prognostic factor in this situation. Age was not decisive in surgical results. Operative mortality is correlated with the degree of operative risk expressed on the basis of an analysis of the patient's biological state prior to the operation and of the specific and aspecific effects of surgery.