Long-term results in the elderly following pulmonary resection for non-small cell lung carcinoma

Abstract

The long-term results of 647 patients undergoing pulmonary resection fornon-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) between 1980-1988 were reviewed. Onehundred forty-five (22%) were elderly patients (70 years or more, group 1),with a mean age of 72.3 years (70-81) and the other 502 (18%) were younger(69 years or less, group 2) with a mean age of 61.4 (40-69) years. The maleto female ratio was 4:1 in group 1 and 3:1 in group 2. The number ofpatients in group 2 (n = 234, 47%) who underwent pneumonectomy wassignificantly greater (P ≪ 0.01), compared to group 1 (n = 47, 32%).Cardiopulmonary complications were more frequently observed in group 1(19.3%) than in group 2 (7.4%), P ≪ 0.05. Although cardiac complications(i.e. arrhythmias) were more common in the elderly group, pulmonarycomplications (retained secretions, atelectasis) occurred more commonly inthe younger group. The overall hospital mortality in group 1 and group 2was 8.9% and 5.3%, respectively (NS), and mortality following pneumonectomyin group 1 (10.6%) was similar to that of group 2 (7.6%) (NS). The 2- and5-year overall actuarial survival rates were 61% and 30% in group 1 and 57%and 37% in group 2 (NS). Superior survival was achieved in patients instage I of the disease in both groups. Cell type was not a determinant oflong-term survival differences between the groups whereas type of operation(lobectomy) and sex (female) were.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)