Elective coronary artery bypass in the elderly: experience in a community hospital

Elective coronary artery bypass can now be safely done in elderly patients. Seventy-four patients, aged 70 to 81 years (mean, 73 years), had elective primary coronary artery bypass in a community hospital between August 1978 and November 1982. Two patients (3%) died within 30 days of operation. Late deaths (range, one to 38 months; mean, 19 months) have occurred in three patients (4%). Sixty-five patients (94%) are New York Heart Association classes I or II postoperatively. These results seem to justify continued application of this operation in carefully selected patients.