[Assessment of quality of life in long-term results of patients over 75 years old after emergent cardiovascular surgery].

Long-term results in QOL of patients over 75 years old after emergent cardiovascular surgery were examined. From January 1991 to June 1996, 46 patients underwent cardiovascular surgery. 22 patients who had elective surgery (elective group) and 15 patients who had emergency surgery (emergency group) tolerated with the operation: Two-year survival rate after surgery was 80.7% in the elective group and 78% in the emergency group, and relative survival rate was 0.89 in the elective group and 0.86 in the emergency group. As regards to the ability to live independently, 89% of elective group and 75% of emergency group showed good improvement, and there was no significant difference between two groups. The rate of patients who did not feel anxiety for disease at all was 61.1% in the elective group and 41.7% in the emergency group. The relationship between the patient and his family was good in both groups. For physical condition, the emergency group was superior to the elective group with no significant difference. Although QOL was relatively good after emergency surgery, some items were inferior compared with elective surgery. To improve the long-term results, elective surgery is required to avoid emergency surgery.