Cardiac Surgery in the Ninth Decade of Life

This study considers 96 consecutive patients of more than 80 years of age who were referred for surgery for either valve replacement (n = 51) or myocardial revascularization (n = 45) between 1985 and 1992. The patients having valve surgery consisted chiefly or aortic valve replacements (AVR), with a total of 48 (isolated in 44 and combined with another valve in 4 cases) being performed. Some 70% were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and IV and 21.5% had experienced syncope. Bioprosthetic valves were implanted in all patients with an average aortic cross-clamping time of 58 min. The 1-month mortality rate was 9.8% (5/51, one mitral valve replacement and four aortic valve replacements). Death was caused by perioperative haemorrhage (one), low cardiac output (one), cardiopulmonary failure (two) and multiorgan failure (one). The morbidity rate was 64%. The actuarial survival rate was 76, 67 and 46% at 1, 2 and 4 years, respectively. By 4 years 89% were in NYHA stages I and II. Of the 45 patients having coronary artery bypass grafts, 85% were in NYHA class III or IV and 69% had progressive unstable angina. Some 29% had a stenosis of the left main coronary artery and 51% h