Aortic valve replacement in elderly and advanced age patients: analysis of preoperative risk factors

Background. Despite an increase in the number of surgeries performed in elderly patients, conventional aortic valve replacement is associated with high postoperative mortality in comparison to young adults. The risk of surgical intervention in elderly patients is associated not only with the age, but also with the presence of a large number of concomitant diseases.

Aim. To evaluate the immediate results of conventional aortic valve replacement and assess the impact of preoperative risk factors on surgical treatment.

Methods. A retrospective analysis of the results of aortic valve replacement was performed in patients older than 65 years operated in the period from 2011 to 2015 (a total of 253 cases). The mean age of the patients was 70.4±4.14 years. The mean EuroSCORE was 6.09±4.45%. The impact of more than 30 preoperative risk factors on the in-hospital mortality and development of postoperative complications has been analyzed.

Results. The overall in-hospital mortality was 10.3%. In-hospital mortality of isolated aortic valve replacement was 4.8%. In-hospital mortality of aortic valve replacement combined with coronary artery bypass grafting was 8.8%. High postoperative mortality rate was reliably associated with the urgency of surgery, a positive history of stroke, obesity, chronic renal failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary hypertension, a positive history of malignant neoplasms, polyvascular disease, pre-operative atrial fibrillation, IV class NYHA, post-stenotic aortic dilation, severe calcification, small aortic root.

Conclusion. Aortic valve replacement in elderly and advanced age patients have relatively similar results to those of the younger patients. High risk of surgery in advanced age patients is mainly associated with the presence of concomitant extracardiac pathology and preoperative risk factors.

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