[Isolated or combined myocardial revascularization in patients over 65 years of age]

Of a total of 4 952 patients undergoing surgery between 1975 and 1982 for coronary artery disease, 430 (8.7%) were over 65. Single or multiple coronary by-pass was carried out in all patients, either alone or in combination with other procedures (aortic valve replacement: 16 cases; mitral: 10 cases; mitral aortic: 3 cases; mitral-tricuspid: 1 case; vascular surgery: 8 cases; aneurysm resection + mitral stenosis: 15 cases). Hospital mortality was 6.9%. Clinical improvement (NYHA), despite the short follow-up, was most considerable: only 6% of the patients failed to show improvement. The risks of surgery are therefore acceptable and, given the high improvement rate, operation is to be encouraged in this age group.