Factors associated with complications in anaesthesia of the elderly in a low-income country: the case of MONKOLE Hospital Centre

Abstract Objective: Anaesthesia of the elderly is at risk of complications. No study has been devoted to this in our country. This study investigated anaesthetic morbidity and mortality in this type of patient. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Monkole Hospital from January, 1st2011 to December, 31st2020. It included all patients aged at least 65 years undergoing anaesthesia for any surgery. Peri-anaesthetic data were collected and analysed with SPSS 22.0 for p<5%. Results: Of 404 patients, representing 4.8% of all patients, 284 were men (70.2%) and 120 were women (29.7%), with a predominance of patients aged 65 to 74 years (70.5%). Co-morbidities were present in 77% of patients, including hypertension in 52.2%. General and visceral surgery (48%) and urology (29.5%) predominated. Surgical procedures were major in 45.8% of patients. The majority of patients were ASA II (61.38%) and 3% were ASA IV. Locoregional anaesthesia was used in 51.7% of cases and general anaesthesia with intubation in 30.9%. The complication and death rates were 12.9% and 5.9% respectively. The factors associated with postoperative complications were: under nutrition, coma and ASA IV class, and those associated with mortality were: thromboembolic risk, ASA IV class, major surgical procedure and duration of anaesthesia and surgery ≥2 hours. Conclusion: Anaesthesia for the elderly represented 5% of surgical procedures. Mortality was influenced by major surgical procedures, ASA IV class and duration of anaesthesia ≥2 hours and not by age itself.