Aim: The mortality rate of coronary artery bypass surgery increases with advanced patient age. This intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) study was conducted to compare older patients (above 65 years of age) with younger patients (below 65 years of age) who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery and had had an IABP inserted, with regard to hospital stay, clinical features, intensive care unit stay, postoperative complications, and mortality and morbidity rates.
Methods: One hundred and ninety patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery and had required IABP support were enrolled in this study. Patients younger than 65 years of age were considered younger, and the others were considered older. Ninety-two patients were in younger group and 98 patients were older group. The mortality rates, pre-operative clinical characteristics, postoperative complications, and duration of intensive care unit and hospital stay of the groups were compared. The risk factors for mortality and complications were analysed.
Results: One hundred and thirty-eight of the patients were male, and the mean age was 62.7 ± 9.9 years. The mortality rate was higher in the older patient group than the younger group [34 (37.7%) and 23 (23.4 %), respectively (p = 0.043) ]. The crossclamp time, mean ejection fraction, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and length of stay in the intensive care unit were similar between the two groups (p > 0.05). Cardiopulmonary bypass time was the unique independent risk factor for mortality in both groups.
Conclusion: In this study, high mortality rates in the postoperative period were similar to those in prior studies regarding IABP support. The complication rates were higher in the older patient group. Prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time and advanced age were determined to be significant risk factors for mortality.