The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 54, 279-282, Copyright © 1992 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Thoracic aortic operations in patients aged 70 years or older
K Tabayashi, M Ohmi, Y Syohji, H Akimoto, K Matuki, Y Turu and H Mohri
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan.
Thirty-one patients over the age of 70 years (group A) and 72 patients less
than 69 years (group B) underwent a variety of thoracic aortic surgical
procedures. Early and long-term results and cerebral function were compared
between the two groups. Preoperative and postoperative cerebral function
was evaluated using mini mental state-Himeji and Wechsler adult
intelligence scale tests. The operative mortality of groups A and B was
12.9% and 11.1%, respectively (not significant). There were no significant
differences in postoperative complications between the two groups. The late
mortality rates of groups A and B were 11.1% and 9.3%, respectively (not
significant). There were no significant differences between the two groups
in the mini mental state- Himeji test, digit symbol, vocabulary, and total
Wechsler adult intelligence scale scores before and after operation. We
conclude that thoracic aortic surgical procedures in patients over 70 years
of age can be performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity risks. Most
patients showed symptomatic improvement.