Chirurgie vasculaire chez l'octogénaire

The prevalence of peripheral vascular disease increases with aging of the population. About 8% of the octogenarians present significant carotid artery stenosis, about 4% have an abdominal aortic anneurysm of 40 mm or more, and 6% suffer critical limb ischemia. Carotid endarterectomy in octogenarians is a valuable tool for stroke prevention, only if the combined perioperative stroke-mortality rate is lower than 3%. Operating an abdominal aneurysm of 50 mm or more in octogenarians is characterized by an operative mortality that is higher compared to that observed in a younger patient group (4.7% vs 2.7%). Aneurysm-surgery remains nevertheless justified, since it is the only way to prevent the evolution to rupture, that is almost fatal. Limb salvage surgery should always be considered for an 80-years patient with critical limb ischemia, since readaptation after major limb-amputation is not evident for octogenarians. An extensive review of literature is presented concerning vascular aging and results of carotid surgery, aneurysm repair and lower limb revascularization in octogenarians. The authors report their own recent experience with carotid surgery and aneurysm repair in patients aged 80 years or older.