Invasive electrophysiologic evaluation in octogenarians: is age a limiting factor?
To assess the indications, diagnostic yield, and incidence of complications of electrophysiologic testing in the elderly we reviewed our experience with 60 procedures in 45 patients aged > or = 80 years (range 80 to 92 years, mean age 83) undergoing full electrophysiologic evaluation in our laboratory over the past 7 years. The yield of inducible ventricular tachycardia (31%), supraventricular tachycardia (4%), and previously unsuspected conduction abnormalities significant enough to warrant permanent pacemaker implantation (9%), together with the low incidence of complications (1 patient had a deep venous thrombosis and femoral artery pseudoaneurysm, representing an incidence of 2.2% of patients undergoing studies or 3.3% incidence of complications per procedure), suggest that invasive electrophysiologic procedures in the elderly can provide useful information at a complication rate comparable with that of younger patients.
Wagshal
A B
AB
Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01602.
Schuger
C D
CD
Habbal
B
B
Mittleman
R S
RS
Huang
S K
SK
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male