Cardiac Surgery in Elderly Patients: What Is the Evidence?

摘要

Coronary artery bypass surgery and aortic valve replacement can be performed with an acceptable operative risk in the elderly: the 30-day mortality ranges from 2 to 8%. However, the indication for surgery should be individualized based on the patient's personal situation, physical condition, mental status, compliance and the comorbidi-ties. The primary goal of open heart surgery in old patients should be the improvement in quality of life, and the secondary goal, the prognosis. Interestingly the mid-and long-term survival after cardiac surgery in the elderly corresponds to an age-adjusted population without heart disease.