Perioperative morbidity and mortality of coronary artery surgery after the age of 70 years

The aim of this study was to compare the actual perioperative (operative and hospital) morbidity and mortality of coronary bypass surgery in patients aged 70 years or older and patients aged 69 years of younger. From January 1987 to September 1988, 102 patients aged 70 years or older underwent isolated aortocoronary bypass surgery. They were compared with the younger patients operated in the same period. Preoperative, operative and postoperative data were analyzed. There was no significant difference between the mortality and morbidity of the two groups. Morbidity was evaluated according to several parameters, low cardiac output, prolonged ventilation, cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attacks, pulmonary problems, psychosis, renal failure, wound problems and reoperations. Because this is a limited experience it may be premature to conclude than older patients can be operated on as safely as their young counterparts, but this study shows that age is not in itself a risk factor.