Abstract： Objective To explore the characteristics of operation,curative effects and operative management in elderly patients of age older than 70 years with coronary heart disease receiving coronary artery bypass grafting.Methods 108 elderly patients of age older than 70 years with coronary heart disease were divided into two groups:OPCAB group(n = 76) and CCABG group (n = 32) The clinical curative effects, early postoperative mortality and complications of the two groups were compared and analyzed respectively. Results OPCAB group was better than CCABG group in these series(P ＜ 0.05): The early postoperative mortality (5.8%, 11.2%)、 myocardial infarction (2.9%, 10.6%), respiration failure(8.7%, 17.5%), pulmonary complications: (11.8%, 31.5%) 、complication of CNS:(1.8% ,9.8%) 、acute renal failure(1.8% ,6.2%) ,the time of intubation: (9.3 ±4.5), (25.4 ±7.5) h,ICU stay(3.1 ± 1.8) ,(7.1 ±2.9) d,hospital stay(15.5 ±8.6) ,(26.4 ±8.6)d. Conclusion OPCAB could reduce operative mortality and complication, it should be the first option for the surgery of elder patients with coronary heart disease;surgical skills and correct perioperative management were the key factors to assure surgical outcome.