Aortic valve replacement in the elderly.

With increasing longevity, increasing numbers of patients in their 8th decade present with symptomatic aortic valvular disease. We have examined the results of aortic valve replacement in 30 patients of 70 years or older who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement at Groote Schuur Hospital between January 1969 and January 1979. Follow-up ranged from 1 year to 10 years, with a mean of 2,5 years. There was 1 operative death. Two patients died within the first 6 months of operative complications. The 1-year survival rate was 90%. All hospital survivors showed marked improvement in cardiac functional status. Actuarial statistics on survival show an 84% survival rate at 3 years. Aortic valve replacement is safe and effective in patients over the age of 70 years.