[Surgical gynecologic interventions in females over 75 years of age]

In a retrospective analysis of 181 gynaecological operations performed in women older than 75 years the authors examined whether surgery had been meaningful and useful. Malignancy was established histologically in 50.3% of the cases, whereas in 49.7% benign diseases had led to an operation. Postoperative morbidity was 7.73% and depended on the magnitude of the procedure as well as on the diagnosed status of the histological findings. The mortality was 0.55%. Because of this low complication rate under appropriate internal and intensive care, surgery is recommended even in elderly women, if medical indication necessitates an invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedure.