Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery in the Eighth Decade of Life: Experience with 101 Patients

Summary

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABPG) has become a frequent procedure among elderly patients. Our experience with 101 consecutive patients aged 70 or older undergoing isolated CABPG is reviewed. Most were male (73.3%) and almost half were in an unstable preoperative condition (43.6%). Groups were made up according to sex and the type of angina with a view to assessing differences in operative risk and in longterm results. Unstable angina was more prevalent in females (63% versus 36.5%) (p < 0.01). Early mortality rate (overall 5.9%) was significantly greater for females (p < 0.05) and unstabie angina (p < 0.05). Late mortality was, in contrast, greater in males (p < 0.05) and incomplete revascularization was also found to be a predictor of poor prognosis (p < 0.001). The incidence of non-fatal postoperative complications was very high (42.1 %) and there were no differences between the groups. Neither were differences found in regard to the functional long-term course. We conclude that a more aggressive approach is warranted in elderly patients free from severe systemic diseases although a somewhat higher perioperative mortality and morbidity must be expected.

Key words

Bypass surgery - Elderly patients - Unstable preoperative condition - Long-term results