P13. AFTER GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY, PATIENTS OVER 50 REPORT HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE THAN THOSE YOUNGER. Stephanie F. Yeager, RD, Christopher D. Still, DO, FACN, FA, Peter Benotti, MD, FACS, Anthony Petrick, MD, FACS, William Strodel, MD, FACS, Shawn Yoder, Craig Wood, Geis- inger Medical Center, Danville, PA. Background: Many studies indicate improvements in quality of life (QOL) in patients who have lost weight after gastric bypass surgery (GBP). However, few studies examine changes in QOL within specific subgroups of this population, such as patient age. Our retrospective study explored differences in QOL scores be- tween patients older than 50 years of age then younger patients. Methods: Impact of Weight Questionnaires (IWQOL-Lite; Duke University Medical Center© 2000) were administered to 117 pa- tients undergoing GBP (38 older than 50, 79 younger than 50). Parameters included physical function, sexual life, public distress, work, self-esteem, and overall QOL. Patients completed their as- sessment and results for each category were compared to their individual post-GBP data, and a paired t-test was used to calculate p-values. Results: In all age groups total QOL scores as well as all indices of QOL improved. Significantly, mean change improved more in the perceptions of patients older than 50 years of age (p0. 0001) when compared to those younger in the categories of Physical Function: 50.7% vs. 43%; Self Esteem: 39.2% vs. 32.8%, Work: 34.2 % vs. 22.5%, and Total QOL 41.2 % vs. 34.6 %. Conclusion: These early results suggest improvements in per- ceptions of overall QOL following gastric bypass surgery in patients older than 50 when compared with patients younger than 50, and specifically in categories of improved physical function, self-esteem and work. This topic deserves further empirical investigation. PII: S1550-7289(06)00354-6 P14. BARIATRIC SURGERY IN PATIENTS 60 YEARS OLD AND OLDER. Peter T. Hallowell, MD, Thomas A. Stellato, MD, Cathleen J. Crouse, RN, Margaret M. Schuster, RN, Kristen N. Graf, RN, Ann V. Robinson, John J. Jasper, MD, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH. Background: The success of bariatric surgery in the treatment of morbid obesity and co-morbid conditions has spurred surgeons and patients to seek this therapy in groups outside the 1991 NIH consensus conference recommendations. Results have varied in patients over age 55. A recent review of the Medicare database revealed results that were less than expected. We report our expe- rience in patients 60 years and older. Methods: We reviewed our prospectively maintained database of 868 consecutive patients. 837 Patients were identified as having a primary RNY gastric bypass. 43 patients in this group were 60 or older. They were compared to 794  60. Results: We identified 43 pts. 60 years old or older (range 60 – 66) and 794 pts less than 60 (range 18-59). Demographic data is listed below: Conclusion: Bariatric surgery can be performed in patients age 60 and over with acceptable morbidity and mortality. In our series major complication rates are comparable between those 60 and over and those under. We believe these results reflect careful patient selection and intensive preoperative education and evalu- ation. Our results indicate bariatric surgery should not be denied based on age. Table 1 60 & over (n43) Under 60 (n794) Significance Age 61.7 42.5 M/F 12 % / 88% 13% / 87% NS BMI 49.8 50.5 NS OR time (min) 145 165 0.02 Length of stay (days) 2.95 3.26 NS Values for Age, BMI, OR time, and LOS are mean Postoperative complications are listed in the table below: Table 2 60 & over (n43) Under 60 (n794) Significance PE 4.6% (2) 1.1% (9) NS Leak 0 1.5% (12) NS Fistula 2.3%(1) 1.1% (9) NS Bleeding 0 1.9%(16) NS Pneumonia 2.3%(1) 0.8%(7) NS Bowel obstruction w/in 30 Days 2.3%(1) 0.7%(6) NS Death 0 0.4%(3) NS Fishers exact test PII: S1550-7289(06)00355-8 P15. SAFETY OF BARIATRIC SURGERY IN PATIENTS 65 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. Huy Trieu, MD, Samuel Szomstein, MD, Raul J. Rosenthal, MD, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL. Background: Advanced age is considered a relative contraindica- tion to bariatric surgery. Given the increase in life expectancy and the morbidity associated with aging, the potential health benefits of bariatric surgery for the elderly should be reconsidered. This study aims to investigate the safety of bariatric procedures in patients 65 years of age and older. Methods: A retrospective review of 1500 patients who underwent bariatric surgery between February 2000 and October 2005 was performed. Seventy-five patients 65 years of age and older were evaluated. The procedures performed included laparoscopic Roux- en-Y gastric bypass, gastric banding, and sleeve gastrectomy. The rate of perioperative complications, mortality, and length of hos- pital stay were assessed. Results: There was no mortality in this series. One patient (1.3%) developed rapid atrial fibrillation, requiring termination of the operation. Two patients (2.7%) developed perioperative atrial fi- brillation, which resolved spontaneously. There was one (1.3%) postoperative leak. One patient (1.3%) had an esophageal perfo- ration requiring reoperation. Ten patients (13.3%) had anastomotic strictures and/or ulcers. One patient (1.3%) had a gastrointestinal bleed, which resolved spontaneously. The average length of hos- pital stay was 3.8 days. Two patients had extended hospital stays, 13 and 28 days, for esophageal perforation and postoperative leak, respectively. 314 Abstracts: Poster Session 2006 / 2 (2006) 310 –347