Cardiac Surgery in Elderly Patients: What Is the Evidence?

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 comorbidities. 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.