Myocardial revascularization in elderly patients (i.e., over 70 years of age) is associated with higher incidence of morbidity and mortality compared with younger patients. We herein report our experience on myocardial revascularization in the elderly comparing the results between 2 groups; one operated on with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass and the other group in whom extracorporeal circulation was not used. The records of 265 elderly patients ( at or above 70 yrs) undergoing myocardial revascularization were prospectively analyzed between January 1994 and December 1995. Mean age was 74 Â+/- 6 years (range 70-95 yrs), with 83 (31.3%) females and 182 (68.7%) males. The following were the preoperative diagnoses: chronic ischemia and angina (186 patients), reoperation (28 patients), unstable angina (26 patients), failed angioplasty (13 patients), post-thrombolytic therapy (7 patients), cardiogenic shock (2 patients), evolving myocardial infarction (2 patients), and aortic dissection (1 patient). Extracorporeal circulation was used in 204 (76.9%) patients (Group I) and no extracorporeal circulation was used in 61 (23.1%) patients (Group II). The overall mortality was 6.4%, with 7.8% (16/204) in Group I and 1.6% (1/61) in Group II. Hospital stay was 11.4 days in Group I and 7.1 in Group II. Transfusion requirements were 1.4 and 0.6 units for Groups I and II, respectively. The use of extracorporeal circulation in the elderly is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following myocardial revascularization. Whenever possible, myocardial revascularization in the elderly should be performed without the use of extracorporeal circulation.