Methods: Medical charts of 918 patients who underwent CABS between January 2002 and September 2006 were investigated and 112 male patients with no missing data according to the inclusion criteria were recruited for the study, and they were divided into two groups according to their ages being below or over 70 years (younger group: 89 patients; mean age 57.6±5.3 years and elderly group: 23 patients; mean age 71.6±2.3). Pre- and postoperative respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength and clinical outcomes of both groups were compared, and correlations between these parameters were investigated.

Results: Before the surgery, vital capacity (VC; p=0.0006), forced vital capacity (FVC; p=0.0005), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1; p<0.0001), FEV1/FVC % (p=0.02), forced mid-expiratory flow (FMF; p<0.0001), forced expiratory flow (FEF; p=0.0005), maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax; p<0.0001) and maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax; p=0.02) were significantly lower in elderly patients compared with the younger ones. The decrease in pulmonary functions, respiratory muscle strength and complication rates were similar in both groups postoperatively. Elderly patients required longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (p=0.03), intubation time (p=0.0004), intensive care unit stay (p=0.001) and postoperative hospital stay (p<0.0001) than younger patients.

Conclusion: Although postoperative clinical recovery was longer in our elderly patients than younger ones, it was still better than the outcomes observed in other studies. Thus, male patients over 70 years of age should not be denied CABS solely on the basis of age.