[Surgery in the aged--status and consequences]

Surgery in advanced age is encumbered with hazards for the patient ensuing above all from his polymorbidity. Accordingly, postoperative mortality may be up to 30 per cent and, in special cases (ileus), may even be as high as 80 per cent. Although many operations are performed and excellent results can be presented, alternatives to the prevailing attitude of taking the present situation for granted are feasible. Such alternatives are offered by a specific prophylaxis focussing in the younger patient on conditions which will require on operation anyway and which, as experience shows, will lead to serious complications in old age. If these consequences are taken into account, old people can be spared many an operation.