[Surgical therapy of bronchial carcinoma in old age]

Between 1972 and 1981 436 patients with lung cancer underwent thoracotomy. 84 (19.2%) patients were aged 70 or more. 58.3% of this age group were in the tumor stage pT1-T2N0M0. In 82.1% a lobectomy was favored. The postoperative lethality among these 84 elderly patients was 19% caused by cardial insufficiency (68.8%) or postoperative pneumonia (25%). As a result of the high postoperative lethality in the elderly patient limited lung resection may be applied more often.