EFFECTS OF LOWER GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT SURGERY ON SURVIVAL IN ELDERLY AND OCTOGENARIAN PATIENTS

Introduction: Life expectancy has significantly increased in the last decade. The decision to perform surgery has always been challenging in elderly patients. We aimed to evaluate outcomes in patients who underwent surgery for lower gastrointestinal tract diseases and investigate factors influencing morbidity and mortality, particularly in octogenarian patients, and the effects of age on prognosis and survival in the postoperative period. Materials and Method: This study included patients aged >= 70 years who underwent lower gastrointestinal tract surgery; patients were divided into three groups as 70-75 years, 75-79 years, and >= 80 years. Age, gender, type of surgery, ASA score, length of hospital stay, morbidity, 30-day mortality, and overall survival were evaluated. Results: The surgery was performed to 598 patients due to lower gastrointestinal tract diseases. There was a significant increase in the ASA score with increasing age (Chi-square=35.472; p<0.001). The survival rate was significantly higher in patients with malignancies than in those with benign diseases, and in patients who underwent elective surgery than in those who underwent emergency surgery (p<0.001). When patients were examined according to age groups, the overall survival was similar across groups (p=0.217). Conclusion: There was no significant difference between octogenarian and younger patients for complications and survival. Thus, planned surgical interventions in elderly patients will not negatively affect survival and surgical interventions and can be safely performed in these patients.