Mark E. Linskey, M.D.
Department of Neurological Surgery
University of California, Irvine Medical Center
101 The City Drive, Bldg. 56, Suite 400
Orange, CA 92868
714-456-6966
http://neurosurgery.uci.edu/facultybio/linskey/
Transcript: At what age should someone not consider a microvascular decompression?
People are often asking “What is the age at which one should not consider a microvascular decompression?” and that’s a good question. But the answer I usually give somewhat tongue in cheek is that “It’s not the years, it’s the miles.” And that’s really true.
Nowadays as we are living longer and longer in the United States and we are leading healthy and healthier lifestyles. There are people that are in their 70’s and 80’s who are perfectly healthy on no medicines or minimal medicines with very few medical problems.
The oldest patient I’ve operated on for microvascular decompression is 80. We’re currently considering someone who is 87 and plays competitive tennis at their country club every day.
There are other patients who are 47 or 50 who we will not do microvascular decompression on. They may have had three heart attacks or several bypasses. And they may be terrible medical risks for general anesthesia.
These are the issues that need to be taken into account. Age is not absolute.