Percutaneous transluminal balloon catheter aortic valvuloplasty in elderly patients

Nowadays aortic valve replacement or reconstruction is a widely accepted operation, which can be performed with an overall in hospital mortality of about 5% and an excellent life expectancy after the operation for the survivors (20). However several preoperative variables have been recognized that increase the operative risk of aortic valve replacement (21). Among these factors are age over 70 years, female gender, poor left ventricular function, concomitant coronary artery disease and emergency operation. Accumulation of several of these risk factors might lead to such a high expected operative risk, that patients, however severely symptomatic, are denied operation. Moreover the high age of some patients with severe aortic stenosis, can be a prohibitive factor in performing cardiac surgery.