Risk factors and outcomes after coronary reoperation in 739 elderly patients

As second coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operations are becoming more common in elderly patients, we conducted a retrospective analysis of risk factors for in-hospital and late outcome in patients aged 70 and over.

We reviewed records of 739 patients who underwent second CABG at age 70 or older at our institution between 1983 and 1993. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative variables were analyzed to identify predictors of in-hospital and long-term mortality.

The mean age (+/- standard deviation) at reoperation was 74 +/- 3 years and the mean interval after primary operation was 130 +/- 55 months. In-hospital mortality was 7.6% (n = 56). Preoperative factors associated with increased in-hospital mortality were preoperative creatinine greater than 1.6 mg/dL (p < 0.001), emergency operation (p < 0.001), female sex (p = 0.012), moderate or severe left ventricular dysfunction (p = 0.049), and left main coronary disease (p = 0.045). In-hospital, actuarial survival was 75% at 5 years and 49% at 10 years. Cardiac event-free survival was 60% at 5 years and 27% at 10 years. The factors independently associated with increased late death were hematocrit (p = 0.046), diabetes (p = 0.011), peripheral vascular disease (p < 0.001), left ventricular function (p < 0.001), history of cancer (p = 0.016), preoperative nonsinus rhythm (p = 0.003), anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy (p = 0.018), postoperative encephalopathy (p = 0.001), and postoperative stroke (p = 0.014).

CABG reoperation can have excellent results for many elderly patients, but mortality is markedly higher when elderly patients have certain risk factors and comorbidities, alone or in combination. This information should be helpful in educating patients before they decide whether to choose reoperation.