Octogenarians Should Not Be Denied Open Heart
Surgery Based on Age
Study finds older senior citizens can be good
candidates for heart surgery
Oct. 28, 2008 - Patients 80 years and older who are
in overall good health are perfectly able to withstand open-heart
surgery, according to the latest study of Dr. Kevin Lachapelle of the
McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Montreal. It is the latest in a
growing number of medical opinions that continue to advance the age for
many medical procedures that were once thought to risky for older
people.
His findings were presented this morning in Toronto
during the 2008 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress.
"Age should not be a reason for doctors to rule out
the possibility of heart surgery for their octogenarian patients,"
explained Dr. Lachapelle.
"If patients with heart problems are otherwise in
good health, this surgery can significantly improve their quality of
life."
This study conclusion is based on the follow-up of
185 patients who underwent open-heart surgery at the MUHC for a cardiac
valve replacement.
Five years after the operation, 60% of these
patients were still alive and 90% of the survivors were leading active
and independent lives.
"This outcome is extremely positive," said Dr.
Lachapelle.
"It proves that age alone should not be a factor in
ruling out this type of surgery: feasibility must be assessed by a
surgeon based on the patient's overall state of health."
Quality of life is a major concern for
octogenarians, a growing segment of the Quebec population. It is
therefore important to evaluate all possible treatments according to
each patient's specific needs and limitations in order to provide
everyone with the best possible care, he says.
"Pediatricians account for children's specific
needs, as they differ from those of adults. The elderly also have
specific issues that must be objectively assessed and not considered
based on pre-conceived notions," explained Dr. Lachapelle.
Background
Information
Dr. Kevin Lachapelle is
a cardiac surgeon at the MUHC as well as a researcher in the
Cardiovascular Diseases and Critical Care Axis of the Research Institute
of the MUHC. He is also an Associate Professor in Surgery at the Faculty
of Medicine of McGill University.
The McGill
University Health Centre
The McGill University
Health Centre (MUHC) is a comprehensive academic health institution with
an international reputation for excellence in clinical programs,
research and teaching. Its partner hospitals are the Montreal Children's
Hospital, the Montreal General Hospital, the Royal Victoria Hospital,
the Montreal Neurological Hospital, the Montreal Chest Institute and the
Lachine Hospital. The goal of the MUHC is to provide patient care based
on the most advanced knowledge in the health care field and to
contribute to the development of new knowledge.
www.muhc.ca
The Research Institute
of the McGill University Health Centre (RI MUHC) is a world-renowned
biomedical and health-care hospital research centre. Located in
Montreal, Quebec, the institute is the research arm of the MUHC, the
university health center affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at
McGill University.
The institute supports
over 600 researchers, nearly 1200 graduate and post-doctoral students
and operates more than 300 laboratories devoted to a broad spectrum of
fundamental and clinical research. The Research Institute operates at
the forefront of knowledge, innovation and technology and is
inextricably linked to the clinical programs of the MUHC, ensuring that
patients benefit directly from the latest research-based knowledge.
The Research Institute
of the MUHC is supported in part by the Fonds de la recherche en santι
du Quιbec. For further details visit:
www.muhc.ca/research
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
Oct. 28, 2008 - Patients 80 years and older who are
in overall good health are perfectly able to withstand open-heart
surgery, according to the latest study of Dr. Kevin Lachapelle of the
McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Montreal. It is the latest in a
growing number of medical opinions that continue to advance the age for
many medical procedures that were once thought to risky for older
people.