Heart : official journal of the British Cardiac Society
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To determine the early mortality and major morbidity associated with cardiac surgery in the elderly. ⋯ Early mortality and major morbidity is low for cardiac surgery in elderly patients. Concerns over the risk of cardiac surgery in the elderly should not prevent referral, and elderly patients usually do well. However, unconscious rationing of health care may affect referral patterns, and studies that assess the cost effectiveness of cardiac surgery versus conservative management in such patients are lacking.