Gynaecological surgery in the elderly

Abstract This chapter reviews the common surgical presentations in elderly females. It presents the current practice for urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and pelvic cancer surgery. The first two reviewed have an increasing prevalence with ageing and can be managed by abdominal, vaginal, or laparoscopic routes, and deliver similar increases in ‘quality of life’ measures as in younger patients. Cancer surgery, usually for ovarian or uterine malignancies, is then reviewed and possible explanations for a more limited surgery offered to elderly patients are evaluated. The chapter also details the paucity of quality research in this group of patients. Anaesthetic management is then reviewed for this population of patients.