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Aortic valve replacement in the elderly: frequently indicated yet frequently denied
1Department of Community Medicine and General Practice, Monash University, East Bentleigh, Vic., Australia. bioethics@go.com
Background:
The prevalence of aortic stenosis is nearly 20% in octogenarians. Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is the optimal therapy choice, yet many symptomatic patients are denied this beneficent technology. Whether mechanical or bioprosthetic, aortic valves are not a scarce resource and their safety, effectiveness and longevity are proven.
Objective:
Because the geriatric population is soaring, clinicians will be encountering more cases of aortic stenosis and the decision-making that leads to surgical referral or non-referral warrants exploration.
Methods:
A literature review was conducted to explore the notion that physicians deny AVR to their patients based solely on their chronological age value.
Results:
Using age as the sole exclusion criterion, medical literature documents the fact that AVR is frequently denied to the elderly.
Conclusion:
It appears that AVR is another beneficent cardiac technology that has been added to the age discrimination list, even though the devices are not scarce, they are cost-effective, and they can improve the life of a symptomatic elderly patient. There is no ethical justification for denying AVR to clinically suitable elderly candidates who request such therapy.