[Coronary bypass surgery in patients 70 years of age and older]

Twenty-six patients 70 years of age and older who underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting were analyzed. These patients were compared with 76 patients under 70 years of age. The results obtained were as follows. The aged group had significantly greater incidences of preoperative pulmonary and renal complications. Preoperative cardiac function in the aged group was not different from that in the younger one. The incidence of left main trunk stenosis among the aged group (31%) was twice that in the younger one (15%). Then mean number of grafts was 3.0 in both groups. There were no significant differences in the operation time, anoxic arrest time, and extracorporeal circulation time between these two groups. Although the operative mortality rate in the aged group (11.5%) was higher than that (2.6%) in the younger one, the difference was not significant. Postoperative cerebral, respiratory and renal complications were more common in the aged group. However, the incidences of these complications were not different between these two groups. Surgical mortality and morbidity were improved in the latter half of the patients of the aged group, in whom only one operative death was observed and there was no life-threatening postoperative complication. Symptomatic improvements in survivors were remarkable. Thus, we conclude that coronary artery bypass grafting can be performed with acceptable risk in patients 70 years of age and older.