BACKGROUND: Surgery plays a central role in the management of acquired valvular heart disease. The optimal diagnostic evaluation, surgical treatment, and postoperative care of these patients are only possible through a cooperative effort of the primary care physician, the cardiologist, and the cardiac surgeon. METHODS: The literature was selectively searched for information on surgical indications, operative techniques, and postoperative care in acquired valvular heart disease. Evidence-based guidelines and treatment recommendations were also taken into account. RESULTS: A wide variety of techniques and implants are now available for the surgical treatment of acquired valvular heart disease. If they are used in evidence-based fashion, the perioperative mortality is low and the long-term outcome is favorable. CONCLUSIONS: The volume of surgery for acquired valvular heart disease in Germany has increased substantially in recent years, from 25,495 cases in 2002 (corresponding to 26.5% of all heart operations in that year) to 33,412 in 2007 (36.5% of all heart operations). The causes for this include both demographic changes and the availability of new, less invasive surgical techniques that yield better results in elderly and/or multimorbid patients. Because of these new techniques, the indications for surgery have widened, while the results have remained favorable.
BACKGROUND: Surgery plays a central role in the management of acquired valvular heart disease. The optimal diagnostic evaluation, surgical treatment, and postoperative care of these patients are only possible through a cooperative effort of the primary care physician, the cardiologist, and the cardiac surgeon. METHODS: The literature was selectively searched for information on surgical indications, operative techniques, and postoperative care in acquired valvular heart disease. Evidence-based guidelines and treatment recommendations were also taken into account. RESULTS: A wide variety of techniques and implants are now available for the surgical treatment of acquired valvular heart disease. If they are used in evidence-based fashion, the perioperative mortality is low and the long-term outcome is favorable. CONCLUSIONS: The volume of surgery for acquired valvular heart disease in Germany has increased substantially in recent years, from 25,495 cases in 2002 (corresponding to 26.5% of all heart operations in that year) to 33,412 in 2007 (36.5% of all heart operations). The causes for this include both demographic changes and the availability of new, less invasive surgical techniques that yield better results in elderly and/or multimorbid patients. Because of these new techniques, the indications for surgery have widened, while the results have remained favorable.
Authors: R H Mehta; D Bruckman; S Das; T Tsai; P Russman; D Karavite; H Monaghan; S Sonnad; M J Shea; K A Eagle; G M Deeb Journal: J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Date: 2001-11 Impact factor: 5.209
Authors: A Carpentier; A Deloche; J Dauptain; R Soyer; P Blondeau; A Piwnica; C Dubost; D C McGoon Journal: J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Date: 1971-01 Impact factor: 5.209
Authors: Friedrich W Mohr; Alexander M Fabricius; Volkmar Falk; Rüdiger Autschbach; Nicolas Doll; Ulrich Von Oppell; Anno Diegeler; Hans Kottkamp; Gerd Hindricks Journal: J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Date: 2002-05 Impact factor: 5.209
Authors: H Koertke; K Minami; D Boethig; Th Breymann; D Seifert; O Wagner; N Atmacha; A Krian; J Ennker; U Taborski; W P Klövekorn; R Moosdorf; W Saggau; R Koerfer Journal: Circulation Date: 2003-09-09 Impact factor: 29.690