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Published on: December 11, 2017
Mitral valve replacement in the elderly is associated with low mortality and similar survival to the general
1Division of Cardiac Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Cirugia Cardiaca. Motevideo, Uruguay - victor_dayan@hotmail.com.
Insights
Mitral valve replacement surgery is a viable option for elderly patients, offering improved survival rates, especially for females, challenging previous perceptions of high surgical risk. This study highlights the feasibility and positive outcomes of the procedure in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Geriatric Medicine
Background:
- Increasing elderly population leads to higher incidence of mitral regurgitation.
- Elderly patients often denied mitral valve surgery due to perceived poor outcomes.
- Mitral valve replacement is the preferred procedure in this center.
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze early and late survival in elderly patients undergoing mitral valve replacement.
- Evaluate surgical outcomes in a center prioritizing valve replacement.
- Compare observed survival with expected survival in the general population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 127 patients over 70 years old undergoing first-time isolated mitral valve replacement (2000-2012).
- Comparison of observed survival with expected survival rates in Uruguay's general population.
- Multivariate analysis to identify predictors of operative mortality and survival.
Main Results:
- Global operative mortality was 9.4%, significantly lower after 2006 (1.8% vs. 15.3%).
- Pre-2006 surgery, low hematocrit, and high creatinine predicted operative mortality.
- 6-year survival: 70.2% for females (similar to expected) vs. 40.1% for males (lower than expected).
- Predictors of survival included earlier surgery (pre-2006) and female sex.
Conclusions:
- Mitral valve replacement is a feasible and effective option for elderly patients with mitral valve disease.
- Centers focusing on valve replacement can achieve low operative mortality and favorable survival, particularly in females.
- Surgical outcomes support mitral valve replacement as a viable treatment for elderly patients, challenging prior misconceptions.
Background:
With the increase in the elderly population, cardiologists and surgeons are faced with an increased incidence of mitral regurgitation. Most of these patients are denied surgery due to a misconceived perception of ominous surgical results. Our objective was to analyze early and late survival in elderly patients after mitral valve surgery in a center in which replacement is the procedure of choice.
Material And Methods:
We obtained clinical follow-up of patients older than 70 years who underwent first-time isolated replacement from January 2000 to January 2012. Observed survival was compared with expected survival in the general population of Uruguay. Independent predictors of operative mortality and survival were determined.
Results:
A total of 127 patients were included. Global operative mortality was 9.4% (1.8% after year 2006 vs 15.3% before 2006; p<0.05). Surgery performed before 2006, preoperative hematocrit and creatinine were independent predictors for operative mortality after multivariate analysis. 6-year survival was 70.2% for females (72.4% expected survival, p=ns) and 40.1% in males (63.5% expected survival, p<0.05). Independent predictors of survival were surgery performed before 2006 (HR=3.2) and female sex (HR=0.4).
Conclusion:
Mitral valve replacement is a feasible option for elderly patients with mitral valve disease in centers with lack expertise in valve repair. Actual surgical results provide low operative mortality and similar survival to general the population (mainly in females).
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