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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Surgical Swine Model of Chronic Cardiac Ischemia Treated by Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Published on: March 27, 2018
[Heart surgery in the elderly]
1Chirurgische Universitätsklinik, Abteilung Herz- und Gefässchirurgie, Herz-Kreislauf-Zentrum-Freiburg. georg.trummer@klinikum.uni-freiburg.de
Insights
Cardiac surgery is increasingly common in elderly patients over 75. This review discusses common procedures like valve replacement and bypass grafting, and options for improving outcomes in this growing demographic.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Cardiac Surgery
Context:
- The number of elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery is rising, with individuals over 75 now comprising approximately 20% of all cases.
- Common procedures include aortic valve replacement (AVR), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and combined AVR and CABG operations.
Purpose:
- To describe current surgical pathways for coronary artery disease and valve disease in elderly patients.
- To discuss age-related morbidity and mortality associated with cardiac surgery in older adults.
- To explore surgical options aimed at improving outcomes for elderly patients requiring heart procedures.
Summary:
- The study reviews the increasing trend of cardiac surgery in elderly populations, focusing on prevalent procedures such as AVR and CABG.
- It highlights that while common valve and coronary surgeries are frequently performed, advanced interventions like heart failure therapy, assist device implantation, and cardiac transplantation are less common in this age group.
- The paper examines the challenges of age-related morbidity and mortality and presents surgical strategies to enhance patient outcomes.
Impact:
- Provides insights into the evolving landscape of cardiac surgery for the elderly.
- Informs clinical decision-making regarding surgical interventions for older adults with heart conditions.
- Contributes to the understanding of optimizing surgical outcomes in a growing geriatric patient population.
Abstract:
Heart surgery has been performed in an increasing number of elderly patients in the recent years. Currently about 20 % of all patients in cardiac surgery are older than 75 years, however their number is increasing constantly. Valve replacement (mainly aortic valve replacement, AVR), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or combined procedures (AVR and CABG) are the most common procedures in the elderly. However, surgical therapy of heart failure, implantation of assist devices or cardiac transplantation have been performed only in a limited number of elderly patients. Surgical pathways in the therapy of coronary artery disease or valve disease are described. Furthermore, age related morbidity and mortality and related surgical options to improve the outcome are discussed.
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