A recent study has found that one in every five older surgery patients will suffer from complications, and one in every twenty will die within 30 days of having surgery.

The study was led by David Story, an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. Mr. Story reviewed operations performed in New Zealand and Australian hospitals, studying the cases of over 4,000 patients aged 70 and above. Half of these patients had existing illnesses, which played a role in the complications that developed after their surgeries.

Mr. Story suggests that advances in technology and surgical techniques have opened surgery up as an option for increasingly old and sick patients. While this affords new benefits, it also comes with a variety of new risks.

As more and more patients in this age group have surgery each year, this study serves to highlight the dangers involved in surgery for older patients. Mr. Story says that greater attention should be paid to the individual patient, rather than just the operation itself.

"We know that with patients with complex medical problems, the degree of illness is a major concern for post-operative care, and that it's very important to individualise treatment under a highly specialised care regime before, during and after surgery".