Coronary artery bypass and valve replacement in octogenarians

A total of 325 patients, aged 80 to 92 (mean 82), underwent cardiac operations with cardiopulmonary bypass over a 4-year period (1991-1995). Hypothermia (22 degrees C) and hyperkalemic cardioplegia were used in each. Coronary bypass procedures only (Group I) were performed in 255 patients with 22 early deaths (8.6%), and the average number of grafts was 3.7 per patient. Single or double valve replacement, with coronary bypass (Group II) was performed in 46 patients, with six early deaths (13%). Single or double valve replacement, without coronary bypass (Group III) was performed in 24 patients, with two early deaths (8.3%). Total hospital mortality was 30 deaths in 325 patients (9.2%). Fifty-six procedures (22%) from Group I and four (9%) from Group II were performed as emergencies, and all operations in Group III were elective. Seventy-two patients (27%) from Group I, 18 patients (39%) from Group II, and nine patients (37%) from Group III had major complications including renal failure, cerebrovascular accident, myocardial infarction, postoperative hemorrhage, sepsis, and ventilatory dependency. Mean hospital stay was 10.5 days for Group I, 13.3 days for Group II, and 15.2 days for Group III, with an overall mean of 13 days (range, 6-52) days. Higher mortality was related to a cardiac index <1.8, cardiogenic shock, emergency operation, creatinine >2.0, and morbid obesity. Mean left ventricular ejection fractions were 0.51 for Group I, 0.45 for Group II, and 0.49 for Group III. Preoperative risk factors associated with a higher mortality included hypertension, smoking, diabetes, and pulmonary hypertension. Two hundred seventy-two of the 299 operative survivors were followed for a mean of 18 (range, 3-52) months. The actuarial survival of octogenarians is 92 per cent, 80 per cent, and 65 per cent at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively, and of the patients surviving operation it was 85 per cent, 70 per cent, and 55 per cent at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. At postoperative follow up, 80 per cent of the survivors reported an active functional status, and there was a low incidence of cardiac-related deaths.