Coronary artery bypass surgery in the elderly.
In order to place the issue of CABG surgery in the elderly in a personal perspective, we have reviewed our series of 250 consecutive patients 70 years or greater in age at the time of surgery and have noted a very acceptable (3.6%) operative mortality. Good short and long term survival has been documented. A modest but important elevation of postoperative CNS morbidity has been documented and remains of concern. We have continued to offer CABG to those patients with acceptable risks who have either intractable angina, intractable ischemic heart failure and multi-vessel disease. Left main obstruction of a significant degree or those with threatening three vessel anatomy in association with a sentinel ischemic event are candidates for the CABG procedure. Substantial preoperative evaluation to include the family support substrate must be an important part of the decision process as well as open communication with concerned family members. We feel that the improved life style and enhanced survival justifies CABG in those elderly patients identified with severe coronary artery disease.
McIntyre
A B
AB
Heart Center, Richland Memorial Hospital, Columbia, S.C.
Ballenger
J F
JF
King
A T
AT
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate