Thoracic surgery in septuagenarians and octogenarians: Shift in number of operated patients, surgical procedures and approach; Ten year analysis

Introduction:

Septuagenarians and octogenarians are theoretically considered at higher risk of surgery due to comorbidities and recovery potential.

Objective:

Our goal is to show a shift in surgery of septuagenarians and octogenarians considering number of operated patients, indication for surgery, surgical approach as well as the extent of surgical resection.

Material and methods:

Medical records of patients over 70 years old who underwent thoracic surgery in Clinic of Thoracic Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia from January 2009 through December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated trend and distribution of number of operated septuagenarians and octogenarians, surgical approach and extent of surgical resections.

Results:

Out of 734 evaluated patients, there was 70,4% of men and 29,6% of women. Our analysis showed that the number of operated patients was increased by 56% comparing the first and the last year. There is an increase in use of minimally invasive surgery which is used more often since 2013. Analysis showed the increased number of radical surgical resections such as lobectomy and pneumonectomy compared to sublobar resections over the period of 10 years. Out of all operated patients over 70 years old mortality rate over the analyzed period was 4,97%.

Conclusion:

Our analysis showed increased number of septuagenarians and octogenarians who underwent thoracic surgery as well as increased number of extensive surgical resections. However, mortality rate remains similar throughout the analyzed ten year period.