[Outcome of aortocoronary bypass in old age]

43 patients over 60 years of age underwent an aortocoronary bypass operation between 1974 and 1977. The observation period after surgery ranged from 4 to 7 years. Clinical results of this group were compared with the results of a group who presented with the same presurgical and surgical characteristics, randomly chosen between 212 patients under 60 years of age operated on in the same period. Surgical mortality was 16.2%, higher than that of the control group (5.5%); similar and very low is the late mortality in both groups (average follow-up on 5.3 years): 2.9% vs 5.5%. The effects on angina are favourable: 79.4% of elderly patients are free from angina and improvement in symptoms is present in all; left ventricular failure is rarely present (7.6%); congestive heart failure is absent. Moreover we pointed out the efficacy of the aortocoronary bypass on return to work. These results lead to a more favourable attitude towards operation in subset of patients showing serious symptoms of coronary heart disease in old age.