A comparative evaluation of a prosthetic operation and balloon valvuloplasty in aortic valve stenosis in elderly people

: The results of surgical treatment of aortic stenosis (AS) in elderly patients were studied in a group of 602 patients aged from 70 to 90 years (average age 74.6 years) chosen from a total number of 1,643 persons who underwent operation for AS in 1975-1988. Total operative mortality with consideration for mortality connected with combined interventions was 11.4%, in the group of isolated prosthetics it was 10.4%. The late-term results were appraised in 96.6% of patients (in 3.6 years, on the average). According to actuarial charts, survival after 3 years was 75.9%, after 5 years--66.7%, and after 7 years--55.6%. There was no difference in the survival values of recipients of biological and mechanical prostheses. Significant improvement of the functional condition was noted (96.5% of patients belonged to NYHA classes I and II). Demographic and epidemiological studies showed this pathology in the elderly to be a new problem of surgery. Surgical treatment is justified by the quality of the results, prolonged survival, and an admissible risk level even at the age of 80-90 years. Comparison with the results of aortic balloon valvuloplasty studied on basis of a rich literature review shows these to be much poorer. On the whole, only surgery may be the real method of treatment allowing effective removal of AS. The operation can be carried out even on very old patients if there are no substantiated contraindications on the part of the brain and the patient's general condition.