Short-term and long-term outcomes of octogenarians after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery

Off-pump coronary artery bypass has been reported to be associated with reduced morbidity and mortality after surgical coronary revascularization, especially in high-risk patients. The aim of this study was to clarify the efficacy of off-pump coronary artery bypass for the very elderly patients.

We compared the outcomes of octogenarians (n = 28, 82 ± 2 years) undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass and those of the patients <80 years of age (n = 315, 67 ± 9 years) during short- and long-term periods.

There was no difference in hospital mortality between octogenarians and the younger cohort (3.8% vs. 0.6%; P = 0.11). A high rate of postoperative complications (e.g., pneumonia, transient renal dysfunction, ventricular arrhythmia) were observed in the octogenarians. The long-term survival (81% at 5 years) and the rate of freedom from cardiac death (92% at 5 years) and from cardiac events (85% at 5 years) were excellent in the octogenarians; they appeared less favorable, however, when compared with the younger group (95%, 98%, and 94% at 5 years, respectively). Most of the cardiac adverse events, including unexplained sudden death, occurred 6 months after the surgery in octogenarians.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass can be performed safely in octogenarians, with excellent early and late outcomes. Careful postoperative follow-up is required to reduce postoperative long-term adverse events. Off-pump coronary artery bypass is a feasible modality of coronary revascularization for octogenarians.