Endoluminal thoracic aortic repair in the octogenarian and nonagenarian: the New Zealand experience.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to review the New Zealand-wide experience of thoracic endovascular aortic repair to determine effect of age on outcome.

Methods: This was an observational, retrospective analytic study comparing two age groups. The New Zealand Thoracic Aortic Stent (NZTAS) registry was reviewed for patient demographics, indications for repair, risk factors, technical success, complications, length of hospital stay and in-hospital mortality.

Results: The 264 patients were divided into two groups: <80 (Group I, n = 245) and >80 years on the day of the procedure (Group II, n = 19). Group II comprised 11 males and 8 females with a mean age (range) of 84 (80-90) years. Using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons's scoring system for risk factors, there was no significant difference between the groups. Technical success was 84% (n = 16) in Group II. The mean hospital stay in Group II was 20 (2-90) days and the in-hospital mortality 16% (n = 3). None of these outcomes was significantly different to those in the under 80 group (Group I).

Conclusions: Data from NZTAS registry show outcomes and risk factors do not significantly differ between the two age groups.