Coronary artery bypass surgery in the eighth decade of life: experience with 101 patients

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABPG) has become a frequent procedure among elderly patients. Our experience with 101 consecutive patients aged 70 or older undergoing isolated CABPG is reviewed. Most were male (73.3%) and almost half were in an unstable preoperative condition (43.6%). Groups were made up according to sex and the type of angina with a view to assessing differences in operative risk and in long-term results. Unstable angina was more prevalent in females (63% versus 36.5%) (p less than 0.01). Early mortality rate (overall 5.9%) was significantly greater for females (p less than 0.05) and unstable angina (p less than 0.05). Late mortality was, in contrast, greater in males (p less than 0.05) and incomplete revascularization was also found to be a predictor of poor prognosis (p less than 0.001). The incidence of non-fatal postoperative complications was very high (42.1%) and there were no differences between the groups. Neither were differences found in regard to the functional long-term course. We conclude that a more aggressive approach is warranted in elderly patients free from severe systemic diseases although a somewhat higher perioperative mortality and morbidity must be expected.