Objective To analyze the risk factors for complications in elderly patients with cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass.Methods From July 2004 to June 2012,64 patients aged ≥ 60 years undergoing cardiac operations were selected.Clinical data were collected.The complications after cardiac operation and the risk factors were evaluated by single factor analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis with SPSS software.Results The postoperative complication rate in all patients was 34.4％ (22/64).The complications occurred in 42 subjects and operative mortality was 6.3％ (4/64).The single factor analysis showed that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease combined before operation (P=0.001),diabetes combined before operation (P=0.009),cardiopulmonary bypass time ≥2 h (P=0.000),aortic cross clamping time ≥90min (P=0.001),and blood transfusion volume ≥2000 ml (P =0.000) were the important risk factors for postoperative complications.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P=0.007) and diabetes combined before operation (P=0.028),cardiopulmonary bypass time ≥2 h (P=0.003),and blood transfusion volume ≥2000 ml (P=0.030) were the significant independent predictive risk factors for postoperative complications.Conclusions Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,diabetes,cardiopulmonary bypass time ≥2 h,aortic cross clamping time ≥90 min,and blood transfusion volume ≥2000 ml are the independent predictive risk factors for postoperative complications in elderly patients with cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass.