Cardiac surgery in the octogenarian: nursing implications.
OBJECTIVE
To determine morbidity and mortality rates in octogenarians undergoing cardiac surgical repairs and to compare these results with a similar group of younger patients.


METHODS
Retrospective, two-group.


METHODS
Midwestern university medical center.


METHODS
Group I consisted of 235 male and female patients who were all less than 80 years of age. Group II consisted of 235 male and female patients who were 80 years of age or older. Both groups underwent similar cardiac surgical procedures.


METHODS
Development of postoperative complications, length of hospitalization, and mortality.


RESULTS
When comparing octogenarians with younger patients, octogenarians developed significantly more postoperative complications with higher operative mortality. In addition, octogenarians were hospitalized significantly longer than the younger group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that age is a major risk factor influencing outcome after surgery. However, by incorporating nursing interventions with geriatric concepts, those postoperative complications that are common in octogenarians may be more effectively treated and possibly prevented. With sensitive and knowledge-based care, most older patients can anticipate good recovery after cardiac surgery.
Vaca
K J
KJ
Department of Surgery, St. Louis University Health Sciences Center, MO 63110-0250.
Lohmann
D P
DP
Moskoff
M E
ME
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality / Q000451:nursing; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors