[Gastrectomies in the elderly as curative and palliative operations (author's transl)]

Out of 422 patients operated on for gastric carcinoma from 1970-1980, 152 were older than 70 years. We performed a total resection of the stomach on 145 patients: 63 were 60-69 years old, with a 14% mortality; 36 were 70-79 years old, with a 25% mortality. In curative gastrectomies, the mortality was 8% in patients in their seventies (4 cases out of 48) and 12% in their eighties (3 cases of 25). In additional resection of neighbouring organs (liver, colon, and pancreas) mortality was only increased to 17% in the seventh decade and 20% in the eighth. Therefore, radical surgery for carcinoma of the stomach in form of a gastrectomy is justified even in older people, as there is a curative chance. In palliative gastrectomies the mortality has been too high: 33% (5 out of 15) in the seventh decade and 58% (7 out of 12) over the seventh decade. Palliative gastrectomies are only justified in older people if there are special indications.