Abstract

Population analysis has projected greater life expectancy with a steady increase in the number of nonagenarians in the UK, who now represent over half a million of the population [1]. This increase is matched by a greater burden of cardiovascular disease [2-4]. Previously published case series have reported acceptable cardiac surgical morbidity and mortality rates and concluded that cardiac surgery can be performed safely in a carefully selected group of patients within this cohort [5-9]. Cardiac surgery in nonagenarian patients is now performed more frequently. Given their advanced age and increased frailty, few studies have reported on the long-term survival of these patients following cardiac surgery.