Evaluation of the reliability of the EuroSCORE riskanalysis prediction in high-risk older patients undergoing CABG

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the reliability of EuroSCORE risk-analysis predictions on early mortality in high-risk older patients who underwent heart surgery. METHODS: From January 2008 to February 2009, a total of 128 consecutive high-risk older patients who underwent open-heart surgery were included. Patients who required emergency surgery, had pulmonary hypertension, a recent myocardial infarction, underwent combined heart surgery procedures or had renal disease were included. The patients had a mean age of 72 ± 9 years (range 64–91, 53.1% male) and were evaluated for surgery. RESULTS: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery was performed on 112 patients and valve surgery on 16. Eight patients (6.25%) died in hospital. The observed mortality rate was lower than the expected mortality obtained using EuroSCORE (6.25% vs 11.2 ± 7.2%, respectively, p < 0.021). CONCLUSION: There was no correlation between the pre-operative logarithmic score of expected mortality and the observed mortality rate in these older high-risk patients who underwent open-heart surgery.