The risk of postoperative complications was evaluated in 16 patients aged 80 or more operated on for gastrointestinal bleeding (morbidity 43.7%, mortality 25%). For each patient was considered: ASA, APACHE II and SAPS scores, proteinemia, natremia and osmolarity (for the volume changes), Hb value and units of blood transfused, preoperative and operative length. APACHE II and SAPS scores resulted the only variables related to prognosis.