Dx and Tx of the elderly patient with atherosclerotic coronary heart disease.

Complications of MI occur in patients of all ages, but are more common in the elderly. Prevalent are atrial and ventricular dysrhythmias, papillary muscle dysfunction, pericarditis, congestive heart failure, atrioventricular block, cardiogenic shock, and myocardial rupture. Improved surgical techniques and methods of myocardial protection have reduced the perioperative mortality of coronary artery bypass surgery in older persons to an acceptable level.