[Immediate results of pneumonectomies in lung cancer patients older than 70 years].

During 1970-2002 pneumonectomy for lung cancer was fulfilled on 155 patients older than 70 years of age. Immediate postoperative lethality took place in 19.3%. From 142 male patients after pneumonectomy 30 (21.1%) patients died, from 13 female patients - nobody died. The whole time was divided into 3 periods 10 years each. It was noted that postoperative lethality decreased from 21.4% in the first period to 13.8% - in the third one. Lethality was substantially decreased in patients aged 70-72 from 32.6% in 1970-1981 to 6.9% in 1992-2002. In patients older than 75 lethality failed to decrease. The main causes of lethal outcomes were acute cardio-vascular insufficiency and thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery.