To the problem of feasibility of successful myocardial revascularization in the elderly

Coronary artery bypass surgery was performed in 39 patients older than 65 y ears (mean age 67+/-0,4 years) including 4 patients aged 71-78 years. Ninet een patients (49%) had previous myocardial infarction. Left main coronary a rtery was involved in 16 patients (41%). Mean number of grafts was 2,8+/-0, 1. Operations were made under combined thoracic epidural and general anesth esia with the use of normothermic perfusion and blood cardioplegia. Mortali ty was 2,6%. Postoperative complications occurred in 3 patients (7,6%) and were the following: perioperative myocardial infarction, bleeding and media stinitis. Thus in this group of elderly patients risk of surgical myocardia l revascularization was similar to that in younger patients. The following measures were believed to be prerequisites of successful treatment of these patients: shortening of the aortic cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times, the use of blood cardioplegia and thoracic epidural anesthesia, shor t period of artificial pulmonary ventilation, early extubation and early ph ysical activity.