Mitral Valve Surgery in the Elderly Less Risky Than Previously Reported

Patient age alone should neither preclude surgical treatment nor deter consideration of repair rather than replacement.

The risks of mitral valve surgery increase with age, but few studies have specifically examined long-term survival in the elderly. In this study, investigators used a Medicare database to examine operative mortality and survival after isolated mitral valve surgery from 2000 through 2009. A total of 47,279 patients were included (median age, 75; 61% women); 37% underwent mitral valve repair, and 63% underwent replacement.

Comorbid conditions — including congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and atrial fibrillation — were more prevalent in patients undergoing valve replacement as compared with repair. Overall operative mortality was 7.1% (3.9% for repair and 8.9% for replacement). At a median …

Reviewing Author

Howard C. Herrmann, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAffluent Medical; Artedrone; Caranx; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic; Prolifagen; Wells Fargo

EquityMicrointerventional Devices, Inc.

RoyaltiesUniversity of Pennsylvania

Grant/Research SupportAbbott Vascular; Edwards Lifesciences; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic

Editorial BoardsCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions; Journal of the American College of Cardiology; Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Cardiovascular Interventions; JACC Case Reports; JSCAI

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesHeart Valve Collaboratory (Scientific Committee Member, Chair of the Publications Committee)