title: [Analysis of problems in patients over 70 years of age undergoing open-heart surgery for ischemic heart disease].
abstract: The operative results of ischemic heart disease in 102 patients over 70 years of age were compared with the results in 296 patients under 70 years, operated on between January 1985 and February 1991. The incidence of emergent or urgent operations increased significantly with the increase of age (under 64 yrs; 29% of 217 patients, 65 to 69 yrs; 46% of 79, 70 to 74 yrs; 49% of 70, over 75 yrs; 75% of 32) and the mortality rates increased accordingly (5.9%, 11.3%, 15.7%, 37.5% respectively). The mortality rate of isolated coronary artery bypass grafting over 70 years was significantly higher than under 70 years. The mortality rate of mechanical complication after myocardial infarction increased in the patients over 70 years. The incidence of postoperative complication in the patients over 70 years was higher and infectious (11%), pulmonary (10%) and embolic (9%) complications were prominent among others. The tendency of increase in the in-hospital expenses was seen with the increase of age. Although elderly patients have increased morbidity and mortality, particularly when operated on emergency or urgently, survivors quality of life are excellent and justify continued performance of open-heart surgery in the patient over 70 year of age.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hyogo Brain and Heart Center, Himeji, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishiwaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asada
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mukohara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Higami
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okada
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans