CABG in the elderly: the Glasgow experience.

One hundred and eleven patients over the age of 65 years who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting in Glasgow between 1980 and 1985 were compared with 548 younger patients, who had coronary artery bypass surgery over a similar period of time. The elderly group had a higher prevalence of females, pre-operative unstable angina, left main coronary artery disease and depressed left ventricular function. There were no significant differences between the two groups in operative morbidity or mortality and angina was abolished or improved in 93% of the elderly patients at follow-up. Coronary artery surgery has an important role in the management of angina in elderly patients.