Guidelines on the selection of patients with lung cancer for surgery

Abstract

Age 1. Perioperative morbidity increases with advancing age. Elderly patients undergoing lung resection are more likely to require intensive perioperative support. Preoperatively, a careful assessment of co-morbidity needs to be made. [B] 2. Surgery for clinically stage I and II disease can be as eVective in patients over 70 years as in younger patients. Such patients should be considered for surgical treatment regardless of age. [B] 3. Age over 80 alone is not a contraindication to lobectomy or wedge resection for clinically stage I disease. [B] 4. Pneumonectomy is associated with a higher mortality risk in the elderly. Age should be a factor in deciding suitability for pneumonectomy. [B] 90 BTS/SCTS www.thoraxjnl.com