A comprehensive operative risk assessment driving the application of major and emergency surgery in octogenarians.

Medical decisions driving the clinical management of octogenarians who require either major or urgent surgery still depend on the patient's age rather than individual functions. This report created the privileged opportunity to illustrate the clinical effectiveness of a comprehensive function-based assessment. This was the case of an 83-year-old gentleman presenting with severe malnutrition and debility due to esophageal cancer.