The results of operations in 110 patients over 75 years of age with primary lung cancer are evaluated. There were 83 men and 27 women, 22 octogenarians. The eldest patient was an 87-year-old male. Pneumonectomy was carried out in 6 patients, lobectomy in 83, segmentectomy in 5, and partial resection in 16. As for lymphnode dissection, ND2 was performed in 82 patients, ND1 in 6, and ND0 in 21. The number of complete resections was 95, and that of incomplete resections was 15.
The cumulative 5 year-survival rate was 40.0% and the MST was 2.61 years. The patients with curative operations had a good prognosis.
The operation-related death rate was poor in the group 75-79 years old compared with those over 80. Most of the former patients had obstructive pulmonary damage and had a poor DLco· Pulmonary infections were directly related to a worsening of these poor conditions.
Therefore, in order to improve the results of operations in elderly patients, it is necessary to reduce the number of operation-related deaths with low respiratory functions (obstructive pulmonary damage). For this, the control of air leakage with lung resection and the management of pulmonary rehabilitation, including sputum drainage, are very important for the prevention of pneumonia.
