[Man in old age: from the viewpoint of the surgeon]

The most important problems of surgery in the aged patient are: immediate recognition of risk factor (few, but reliable laboratory parameters in the sense of "searching tactics": status of blood, blood sugar, urea-N, creatinine, cholinesterase), careful procedural choice, immediate mobilisation postoperatively, subsequent rehabilitation, if necessary. The operation itself must be fast but careful and as restricted as possible.