Statistical evaluation of factors affecting postoperative mortality in patients over 80 years old

• Published in: Nihon Rinshō Masui Gakkai shi Vol. 3; no. 1; pp. 85 - 93
• Main Authors: OGINO, Ryukoh, YAMASHITA, Masao, MATSUKI, Akitomo, OYAMA, Tsutomu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: THE JAPAN SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL ANESTHESIA 1983
• ISSN: 0285-4945; 1349-9149
• DOI: 10.2199/jjsca.3.85

We evaluated statistically the outcome of surgery and anesthesia in 44 patients over 80 years of age who underwent various surgerys under general anesthesia in the last 16 years at Hirosaki University Hospital. Overall postoperative death rate was 13.6%. Consequently ASA preoperative evaluation scale significantly correlated with postoperative death rate-4% of class 2 patients died, 25% of class, 3, and 33% of class 4. The postoperative death rate after emergency surgery was significantly higher than that following elective surgery-11% of elective surgery and 31% of emergency surgery resulted in postoperative death respectively. But age and duration of the operation did not appear to be factors in affecting outcome of surgery. Halothane was most frequently (58%) used anesthetic for these patients without significant difference in postoperative death rate compared with other anesthetics. Frequent preoperative complications included pulmonary and cardiac diseases which appeared to result in major causes of postoperative death. But objective evaluation method of each preoperative associated disease or other influential factor, besides ASA preoperative evaluation scale, remains to be explored to predict the postoperative prognosis of sick and elderly patients.