[Surgical anesthesia in nonagenarians].
63 nonagenarians (average age 93, range 90-97 years) were operated on between 1987-90 (twice or more in 8, total number of operations 75). 29 were done under general anesthesia, 17 epidural, 15 spinal, and 14 local. Mortality in the 6-month postoperative period was 17%; all deaths were within 35 days. Average postoperative mortality was higher among orthopedic patients (26%) than in those after general surgery (19%). 5 died after epidural anesthesia, 3 after general anesthesia, 2 after spinal anesthesia and 1 after local anesthesia.
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