The effect of age on mortality after pulmonary endarterectomy

<bold>Background:</bold> Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the curative treatment option for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients but there is a limited and conflicting data about the results in elderly population. <bold>Aim:</bold> Aim of this study to investigate the effect of age on mortality after PEA <bold>Methods:</bold> Patients underwent PEA between September 2012- January 2024 at a national referral center were included the study. Outcomes were 30 days mortality and 1 year mortality. <bold>Results:</bold> A totally 831 patients included our final analysis. A total of 831 consecutive patients undergoing PEA (mean age 51 ± 15.3 years, 409 (49.3%) female) were included in the analysis. Among them, 66 patients (mean age 56 ± 14.5 years) deceased within 30 days after surgery. Mortality rates were 8% for short term and 10.4% for 1-year and perioperative complication rate was 5.4%. In multivariate analysis of mortality, age (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.01-1.20, p: 0.022), and ICU LoS (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.01-1.36, p: 0.03) were independent predictors for 30 days mortality, while CCI (OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.25-5.58, p: 0.011), and ICU LoS (OR 1.18 95%CI 1.04-1.33, p: 0.011). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Advanced age in PEA patients is risky for early mortality, and despite the increased number of patients and experience, patient selection must be made carefully, especially in the presence of comorbidities.