La chirurgie aortique chez l'octogénaire. Indications, contraintes spécifiques et limites techniques

Heart surgery has been performed in an increasing number of elderly patients in the recent years. Currently about 20 % of all patients in cardiac surgery are older than 80 years, and their number is increasing constantly. Valve replacement (mainly aortic), coronary artery bypass grafting or combined approaches are the most common procedures in the elderly. However, aortic surgery is extending progressively regarding the improvement of the preoperative conditions of the patients. The adjunctions of endovascular therapies have opened the field for the treatment of complicated pathologies of the descending aorta with a lower morbidity. Nevertheless, if the technical conditions are similar to young persons, the main difference is the absence of postoperative alternative in case of complications.