With her pouty pout and her crazy look, Brigitte Bardot has continued to inspire directors around the world. But the actress does not escape the passage of time. According to the newspaper Var-matin, the 91-year-old star is currently in a worrying state following a surgical procedure. Dr Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical, enlightens us on the risks she runs.
The actress underwent surgery in Toulon
Brigitte Bardot admitted last year no longer able to walk at all“.“I travel (only) with my English canes“, she confided to Nice-Matin. And recently, her condition seems to have deteriorated further.
The actress had to quickly be hospitalized in Toulon, at the Saint-Jean private hospital, to undergo “surgical intervention in the context of a serious illness”.
If the name of her illness has not been communicated, and the actress is now resting at home, what risks does an elderly person incur in having an operation?
Infections, heart attacks… and potential loss of autonomy
Undergoing an operation over the age of 90 is never trivial, because the post-operative risks and complications are much higher. Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician, lists them:
- Increased anesthetic risks: “At 91 years old, the body tolerates general anesthesia less well. Cardiovascular and respiratory risks during and after the procedure are increased”;
- Post-operative complications: “Post-operative delirium (very common in the elderly, which can lead to confusion and disorientation), infections (weakened immune system, slower healing, etc.), heart and lung problems (risk of heart attack, arrhythmia, pneumonia), thromboses, undernutrition…”;
- Prolonged recovery: “The convalescence time is generally much longer, with the risk of lasting loss of autonomy.”
Before carrying out an intervention, several factors must therefore be taken into account:
“The patient’s general condition plays a determining role – this point is more important than age alone. Then, assessing the person’s degree of autonomy, and the possible presence of chronic illnesses, is essential before the intervention. Finally, their nutritional and cognitive state, and their overall fragility, must not be neglected”, recalls the medical director of True Medical.
Obviously, the nature of the disease to be treated is also an essential element.
“We must compare the prognosis in the absence of intervention to that expected with the operation, appreciate the urgent nature of this, and ask ourselves if there are less invasive therapeutic alternatives”, underlines the emergency doctor.
As for the benefit/risk balance, it must be individualized and evaluated with the help of the medical-surgical team.
Operating room: some key questions to ask
Finally, in the event of a planned intervention, several essential questions must be asked to doctors:
- What is the prognosis without surgery?
- What are the alternatives (palliative treatments, less invasive interventions)?
- What are the realistic objectives of the intervention (cure, extension of life, improvement of comfort)?
- What would be the expected quality of life after the operation?
- What is the specific complication rate for this type of procedure in patients of this age in this establishment?
“Of course, there is no universal answer“, recalls Dr. Gérald Kierzek. “Some 91-year-old people in excellent condition can very cope well with an intervention, while others who are more fragile may not recover.” he concludes.