Current hospital mortality of aortic valve replacement in octogenarians.
OBJECTIVE
The increasing incidence of cardiovascular disease with age, coupled to a constant extension of life expectancy in industrialized countries, is leading to an ever-increasing number of elderly patients being referred for aortic valve replacement (AVR). In light of advances in surgical technology and cardiac protection, the operative mortality and risk factors have been updated in order to specify surgical indications.


METHODS
Between January 2000 and December 2004, a total of 442 patients (203 males, 239 females) aged > or =80 years (mean age 82.7 +/- 2.3 years) underwent AVR at the authors' institution. Surgery was either isolated (n = 344) or associated with coronary revascularization (n = 86), mitral valvuloplasty (n = 5) or aortic surgery (n = 7). Seventeen patients had undergone previous cardiac surgery. The EuroScore was calculated for each patient.


RESULTS
Overall operative mortality was 7.5% (n = 33). Independent predictive factors of mortality were: aortic insufficiency (30%, p <0.004), NYHA class IV (20.5%, p < 0.001), left and right heart failure (11.5% and 19.4%, p <0.02), chronic renal insufficiency (18.5%, p <0.04), emergency (37.5%, p <0.001, OR = 4.7), left ventricular ejection fraction (21.1%, p <0.004, OR = 0.9), and redo surgery (35.3%, p <0.001, OR = 6). Mortality was also increased in case of associated coronary revascularization (11.6%), mitral or tricuspid surgery (20%) and ascending aorta procedure (25%).


CONCLUSIONS
Patient functional improvement achieved after valve replacement at the cost of a rather low operative mortality justifies considering octogenarians for surgery. However, decisions should be taken on an individual basis. An earlier referral to surgery before the onset of altered cardiac function could lead to further reductions in hospital mortality.
Langanay
Thierry
T
Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department, University Hospital, Rennes, France. thierry.langanay@chu-rennes.fr
Verhoye
Jean-Philippe
JP
Ocampo
Gabriella
G
Vola
Marco
M
Tauran
Arnaud
A
De La Tour
Bertrand
B
Derieux
Thierry
T
Ingels
Anne
A
Corbineau
Hervé
H
Leguerrier
Alain
A
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012086:Reoperation / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016896:Treatment Outcome