Monday, December 28, 2009

Greater Risk of Complications after Surgery for Older Adults

Each year, roughly 2 million adults age 65 and older undergo surgery involving the abdomen. For most patients, risks for common types of abdominal surgery are minimal; however, a recent study has found that those risks increase with age.


According to a study published in December’s Archives of Surgery, people age 65 and older have a greater risk of experiencing complications and death after an abdominal operation.

Researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle looked medical records for more than 101,000 patients 65 and older. Each patient had undergone a hysterectomy, colectomy, cholecystectomy (removal of the gall bladder) or some other abdominal procedure between 1987 and 2004.


The research team found that about 17 percent of the patients experienced a complication within 90 days of the surgery and more than 5 percent died. For patients age 90 and older, nearly 23 percent had complications and almost 17 percent died following their abdominal operation.


If you have questions about the medical care you received during a surgical procedure or were injured by surgical malpractice, call or e-mail us today. We have helped hundreds of patients who did not receive proper medical care during their surgeries. Our experienced surgical malpractice attorneys will provide you with a free consultation.


Call us toll-free, 1-877-ASK4SAM and visit www.ask4sam.net

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