[Cardiac valve surgery in the elderly]

Cardiac valve surgery was performed in 54 patients over the age of 60 between January 1982 and December 1986. This included 24 mitral, 23 aortic, 7 multiple valve surgery and 2 thrombectomies and 1 leakage repair of the aortic prosthetic valves. We reviewed these cases comparing with 60 younger patients under the age of 59 with particular emphasis on preoperative state, operative mortality, postoperative course and late results. In older patients, lower renal function and fewer red blood cell count than younger patients were revealed preoperatively. Postoperatively, tendency to have low cardiac output syndrome and have much more complications such as acute renal failure, respiratory insufficiency and psychosis were seen in older patients. There were 7 hospital deaths and 1 late death in older patients, but in 6 of 7 hospital deaths, the causes of deaths were non-cardiac. Clinical improvement was quite satisfactory in older patients equally to younger patients. So it was concluded that age alone should not be regarded as a contraindication to surgical treatment in older patients.