Ventricular aneurysm resection. Trends in surgical risk.

From 1972 to 1987, 1,183 patients underwent ventricular aneurysm resection. At 4-year intervals, this series was divided into four subsets that differed in patient and management-related variables. Comparison of patients seen from 1972 to 1975 with those seen in 1984-1987 shows a significant increase in mean age to 59.4 years, with 31.6% older than 65 years, an increase to 43.4% of patients with congestive heart failure, and a decrease to 42.8% of patients with angina. In the most recent interval, 30.7% of patients had mammary grafts, 81.1% had associated grafts, and 47.2% of patients were completely revascularized. Mortality rate, however, increased to 8%. Deaths were attributed to cardiac causes in 59.7% of cases. Multivariate analysis identified emergent procedures, advancing age, left main trunk disease, and history of congestive heart failure as risk factors. We conclude that the incidence of aneurysm resection is decreasing and operative risk has been constant despite advancing patient age and more extensive operative procedure.