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Some relevant data on 290 patients (151 under 65 and 139 over 65 years of age) operated on for gastric carcinoma, have been analysed. The age, the stage and location of the neoplasm, the type of surgery and the post-operative mortality have been studied. The mortality in the 113 patients (64 under and 49 over the age of 65 years) who had had total or partial gastrectomies performed, was evaluated at one year, from one to three years and from three to five years. The survival was evaluated according to the age of the patients, the stage and site of the tumour and the type of operation performed. The most frequent location in the elderly patient is the distal third or two-thirds of the stomach. There is no difference between the mortality in elderly or younger patients except following partial gastrectomy. The survival analysed on the basis of the absolute value, the relationship to the stage, the site of the tumour and the type of operation, is longer in the elderly.

The results of superior polar resection carried out for benign and malignant lesions of the lower 3rd of the oesophagus and cardias were controlled endoscopically. Cure time, elasticity, suture function and the onset of complications were assessed in relation to the technique employed. It is known that the most important late complications in this surgery are, apart from recurrences, cicatricial stenosis, perianastomotic granulomas and, particularly, serious oesophagitis secondary to reflux. It is concluded that Lortat-Jacob valvular anastomosis gives the best immediate and long-term results because of its good elasticity and anastomosis function; there are almost never any problems connected with the presence of reflux, which is so important and invalidating for patients operated on with other techniques.