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Aim:

We aimed to report our postoperative results in elderly patients that had off-pump coronary bypass grafting.

Method:

Data of 173 patients with isolated coronary bypass 70 years of age or older were retrospectively evaluated. One month follow-up data were evaluated in all patients. After getting verbal informed consent a total of 91 patients were included in the quality of life assessment via EuroQoL form. The data of patients with age of 70-74 and 75 or older were compared.

Results:

The mean ages of patients at age of 70-74 and ≥75 were 71.69±0.16 and 76.81±0.23 years; respectively. Eleven cases had in-hospital mortality (%6 of 173 patients). The mean follow-up period for the group that were reached for EuroQoL assessment was 46,3 ± 20,8 months. The percent of cases among the whole study group that had participated in the quality of life questionnaire were in good condition in terms of mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression were %75, %87, %81, %92 and %89; respectively.

Discussion:

Off-pump coronary bypass operation may be safely used in elderly patients with high quality of life and low morbidity and mortality.

Fatal hydrothorax due to misplacement of a nasoenteric feeding tube

Blind nasoenteric intubation was attempted in a patient with chronic parkinsonism. The tube was inadvertently misplaced and penetrated the left pleural cavity. The next day, the patient developed cardiopulmonary arrest during dietary supplement infusion. This complication ultimately led to the patient's death. We have reviewed the known complications of nasoenteric tube placement and conclude that difficult insertion in patients at risk from tube misplacement should be followed by chest radiography to confirm the correct placement of the tube before nutritional support is started.