[The risk of surgical treatment in elderly patients]

The course of surgical treatment of 124 patients aged over 70 years was subjected to an assessment. On the basis of the ASA classification, 88% of all surgically treated patients fell into group III-IV of risk. Surgical operations were performed under intratracheal general anaesthesia (85%) or conduction anaesthesia (15%). The induction of general anaesthesia was accompanied by adverse reactions of the cardiovascular system in the form of arterial blood pressure drops and heart rhythm disturbances. Heart rhythm disturbances were not observed in patients under conduction anaesthesia. No intraoperative deaths were noted.