The management of elderly patients with previous myocardial infarction undergoing noncardiac surgery

Among 35 patients over 60 years of age with previous myocardial infarction undergoing noncardiac surgery within the period of 1975 to 1985, 26 cases (74%) were of thoracic or abdominal operation, 17 (48.5%) of extensive resection of various kinds of cancer. The major complications were: (1)4 cases of postoperative acute myocardial infarction; (2)4 cases of left ventricular dysfunction; (3)3 cases of pulmonary infection; (4)2 cases of atelectasis; (5) and 1 case of, acute excerbation of chronic asthmatic bronchitis. AH survived except 2 cases of myocardial infarction and the survival rate was 94.3%. The optimum time for operation in elderly patients with previous myocardial infarction, the evaluation of risk factors in such patients, the inducing factors and clinical characteristics of postperative reinfarction, the significance of PTFv₁ in evaluating the cardiac function and how to deal with the interaction of pulmonary and cardiac function in such patients were further discussed.