The Annals of thoracic surgery
-
From January 1986 through June 1992, 512 elderly patients (70 years and older) underwent internal mammary artery grafting (IMAG). The operative mortality in these patients was 7.62% (39 of 512), which was significantly higher than that (1.97% [60 of 3,047]; p < 0.0001) in younger patients (under 70 years old). To investigate the risk factors in the elderly, the data from the 512 patients were evaluated by univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression. ⋯ The regression analysis demonstrated that right IMAG, reoperation, history of myocardial infarction, age, left main artery disease, history of smoking, and postoperative complications are the risk factors for the elderly undergoing IMAG. Therefore, particular care should be taken in those patients scheduled to undergo IMAG. The role of right IMAG in the elderly should be further clarified before universal acceptance of the technique in these patients.
-
Homograft replacement of the aortic valve has inherent advantages for the patient in terms of decreased incidence of thromboembolism, endocarditis, and anticoagulation-related complications. Limitations in its use stem from a significant incidence of postoperative aortic regurgitation, related to difficulty with consistent commissural and sinotubular geometry when inserted in the subcoronary position. To minimize this complication, we used a homograft as a functional unit in 71 patients between 1986 and May 1993, either as a root replacement (n = 58) or as an intraaortic inclusion cylinder (n = 13). ⋯ Freedom from significant aortic regurgitation was 88% +/- 7% at 6-year follow-up. More consistent maintenance of the sinotubular and commissural geometry of the aortic homograft may be achieved with the root replacement or the inclusion cylinder techniques. This may reduce the incidence of postoperative aortic regurgitation and further benefit the patient by reducing the need for reoperation in the future.