[The possibility of surgery for aged patients with gastric cancer]

The possibility of surgery for aged patients with gastric cancer has been studied. Of 484 cases who underwent a gastrectomy, patients 70 years of age or over amounted to 86 (20%). The postoperative mortality rate for these aged patients was 3% and the postoperative mortality rate with hospital deaths added from other causes than operative deaths was 7%. The postoperative mortality rate of aged patients who underwent total or proximal subtotal gastrectomy improved during the period between 1975-1983 compared with the period between 1967-1974. In the second period, there were no deaths among aged patients who underwent an R3-operation and/or a combine operation. This fact shows that operative procedures have become safer for aged patients.