[Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients aged 80 years or older].

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in elderly patients was increasing in recent years. Between January 1989, and December 1996, 11 patients aged 80 years or older (mean 81) underwent CABG in our hospital. Nine patients (82%) were in New York Heart Association class III or IV. Emergency surgery was required in 4 patients (36%). Incidence of emergency surgery is higher than younger patients (p < 0.005), emergency surgery required 7.7% (46/592) in younger patients. The operative mortality was 27% for these 80 years or older. It was one in elective cases and two of four (50%) in emergency cases. One operative death in elective cases was concomitant operation with arch aneurysm. More patients of CABG operations in octogenarians required emergency surgery, and emergency surgery is high operative mortality. Thus CABG in octogenarians should be performed earlier, not be denied because of age alone.