ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: As the life expectancy in the general population increases, a constant rise in the number of patients of advanced age undergoing thoracic surgery is also observed. MAJOR TOPICS DISCUSSED: Among the indications for operations on the chest, malignant diseases head the list. Thanks to advances in anesthesia, intensive care and surgical techniques, the peri-operative mortality rate in this age group has been appreciably reduced in recent years. In our own patient material, the relevant figure was 4.37%, and is thus in the lower range of internationally comparable mortality associated with major oncological operations on the chest. CONCLUSION: Patients in their seventies or eighties should not be denied thoracic surgery for age reasons; the decisive factors are the general level of activity of the patient and his/her motivation.
