ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the surgical safety of elderly hospitalized patients in different age groups undergoing general surgery,and provide references for preoperative evaluation and treatment decision-making.Methods The inpatients ≥ 60 years old in the department of general surgery were selected from a national multi-center survey conducted from January to June in 2015 and from January to June in 2016.The patient characteristics and postoperative outcomes were described,and the risk factors for adverse postoperative outcomes of patients in different age groups were explored.Results The elderly patients (≥75 years old) accounted for 17.33%.The non-elderly patient (< 75 years old) group and the elderly patient (≥75 years old) group had significant differences in the proportions of patients with three or more chronical diseases (13.18% vs.5.36%,P<0.001),emergency surgery (16.64% vs.7.62%,P<0.001),American Society of Anesthesiologists score≥3 (48.68% vs.27.28%,P<0.001),and postoperative return to the intensive care unit(33.64% vs.12.00%,P<0.001).The occurrence of postoperative infectious complications showed no significant difference between the two age groups (7.29% vs.6.40%,P=0.410),while severe complications differed between the two groups (6.51% vs.2.60%,P<0.001).Besides,emergency surgery was a common independent risk factor for the two age groups.Conclusions Advanced age is not a contraindication to surgery of elderly patients.With consideration to patient's physical conditions and available surgical resources,elderly patients can still benefit from surgery.