Impact of perioperative course during cardiac surgery on outcomes in patients 80 years and older

To describe the associations among preoperative characteristics, intraoperative and postoperative factors, and mortality and morbidity after open-heart surgery in patients age ≥80 years.

This retrospective multicenter register study was based on prospectively collected data of all patients age ≥80 years undergoing open-heart surgery in western Denmark between 1999 and 2016. Logistic regression was used to estimate the associations among preoperative characteristics, intraoperative and postoperative factors, and morbidity and mortality. Bonferroni correction was used for multiple comparisons.

The study population included 2342 patients age ≥80 years undergoing open-heart surgery. We observed an association between severely impaired preoperative renal function and death within 1-year postsurgery (odds ratio [OR], 4.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.7-7.2). Furthermore, renal clearance <40 mL/min and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time of >180 minutes were associated with a >50% probability of death within 1 year. The adjusted OR for death within 1 year was increased significantly with a postoperative length of stay in intensive care of ≥3 days (OR, 5.9; 95% CI, 4.1-8.6) and a duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation ≥2 days (OR, 7.5; 95% CI, 4.1-13.9). Various preoperative and intraoperative characteristics were associated with in-hospital dialysis, in particular cardiopulmonary bypass time >180 minutes (OR, 11.6; 95% CI, 4.7-28.5).

Our findings emphasize the importance of careful referral regarding the procedural burden for very elderly patients and may provide support for informed patient discussions about prognosis and recovery.