Rapid recovery after coronary artery bypass grafting: is the elderly patient eligible?
BACKGROUND
Rapid recovery protocols after coronary artery bypass grafting have been applied successfully to young patients with normal ventricular function. However, the success of such protocols when applied to the elderly population has not been thoroughly validated, and at some centers there is still reluctance in allowing elderly patients to be discharged early from the hospital.


METHODS
One hundred fifty-two consecutive younger patients (< 70 years) were compared retrospectively with 167 consecutive elderly patients (> or = 70 years) who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting using cardiopulmonary bypass. A rapid recovery protocol emphasizing an anesthetic protocol for early extubation, reduced cardiopulmonary bypass time, and perioperative administration of corticosteroids and thyroid hormone was applied to all patients. The protocol also emphasized early identification and management of postoperative atrial fibrillation, a proactive negative fluid balance, rapid return of bowel function, mobilization of the patient, and aggressive use of the intraaortic balloon pump preoperatively.


RESULTS
The 30-day mortality rate for the younger group of patients was 3.3% (Parsonnet risk 7.2 +/- 6.2), compared with 4.2% (Parsonnet risk, 17.7 +/- 6.8) for the elderly group of patients. There were no statistically significant differences in the 30-day mortality rates or postoperative complications between the elderly and younger patient groups. Rapid recovery with discharge before the fifth postoperative day was achieved in 19% of the elderly, in comparison with 48% of the younger patients (p < 0.001). The younger patients were discharged earlier after operation than the older patients (5.7 +/- 5.2 versus 8.0 +/- 8.5 days; p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Application of the rapid recovery protocol helped expedite recovery for all patients regardless of age, acuity of illness, or associated conditions. Although younger patients had a significantly shorter postoperative length of hospital stay, older patients performed well and are suitable candidates for rapid recovery protocols.
Ott
R A
RA
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, California 92668, USA.
Gutfinger
D E
DE
Miller
M P
MP
Alimadadian
H
H
Tanner
T M
TM
D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003289:Convalescence; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011342:Procainamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D011342:Procainamide; D013974:Thyroxine