title: Isolated aortic valve replacement in patients older than 65 years.
abstract: The results of 196 isolated aortic valve replacements in patients older than 65 years were analyzed. Eighty-four percent of patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III or IV preoperatively. The operative mortality was 12% for all cases and 9% for elective cases. Actuarial probability of five-year survival was 55% for the entire group and 61% for discharged patients. Myocardial failure and congestive heart failure were the most common causes of early and late postoperative death, respectively. Embolic strokes occurred in 16% of discharged patients and caused substantial disability in 9%. At the termination of the study, 94% of surviving patients were in NYHA class I or II, and none were in class IV. Aortic valve replacement in elderly patients entails reasonable operative risk, and results in satisfactory postoperative rehabilitation.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000401:mortality; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013997:Time Factors