[Cardiac surgery in octogenarians]

Increasing numbers of octogenarians are referred to cardiac surgery in Norway. Little is known about short and long term results.

We retrospectively identified 47 patients (20 women, 27 men) aged 80 to 87.5 (81.5 +/- 1.3) years.

The median observation time was 700 days. 28 patients were in NYHA class IV and the rest in class III. Urgent operations were performed on 19 patients (60 %). Operative mortality was 10.5 %; prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time was a predictor of early death. The most common complication was atrial fibrillation. Median intubation time was 5 hours, length of stay in the intensive care unit 2 days, and postoperative length of stay 4 days. Survival at 1 year was 85 % and 60 % at 5 years. Follow-up telephone interviews were 100 % complete. 34 patients (92 %) reported improved health after surgery. All but one lived in their own homes. 32 patients (86.5 %) were in NYHA class I or II at follow up.

Strictly selected octogenarians may undergo cardiac surgery at reasonable risk. They will benefit from improved functional status and quality of life.