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OBJECTIVES Considering the good immediate results reported for transcatheter aortic valve implantation in high-risk patients, the role of conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR) is being questioned, especially in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate our long-term results of conventional AVR in octogenarians. METHODS A total of 2005 patients aged ≥80 years underwent AVR for aortic stenosis in our institution between 1978 and 2011. Of these, 1009 (50%) patients had an associated extracardiac comorbidity and 650 (32%) patients had coronary lesions. Valve replacement was the sole procedure in 1515 (76%) patients, and 396 (19%) patients had concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting. Data were collected at the time of surgery in our database, and regularly updated by mailed questionnaires and telephone contact. RESULTS Early mortality of isolated AVR was 5.5% for the last 10 years of the series. Significant risk factors were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic renal failure, advanced cardiac disease [left or right ventricular failure, New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class IV and atrial fibrillation] and coronary disease. Long-term follow-up was 99.5% complete (9 patients lost to follow-up), totalling 8849 patient-years. Nine hundred and one patients died at late follow-up with a median survival of 7.1 years, with 7 patients becoming centenarian. Apart from older age, main late causes of death were cardiovascular (20.5%), neurological deficit (10.2%) and cancer (10.2%). Actuarial survival was 83%, 62.5% and 25% at 2, 5 and 10 years, respectively. This survival compares favourably with that of a French-matched population. Above all, 90% of late survivors reported functional improvement. Univariable and multivariable analysis identified risk factors of late death as male gender, associated comorbidity, renal failure, advanced cardiac disease, atrial fibrillation and impaired ventricular function. Coronary lesions, associated cardiac surgery and small diameter prostheses (19 or 21 mm) did not impair long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS AVR is effective for all age groups to treat aortic stenosis. Elderly people should not be denied surgery only because of their old age as conventional AVR provides an excellent quality of life and restores life expectancy. Percutaneous valve implantation is to be considered, in cases of non-operable or high-risk patients. However, to date, open-heart surgery remains the treatment of choice for aortic stenosis for the majority of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) is a well-known outcome predictor in patients with valvular heart disease. Limited data are available regarding the evaluation of right ventricular (RV) performance, particularly in patients with aortic stenosis (AS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, determinants, and prognostic significance of RV dysfunction in severe AS independently from the strategy of treatment chosen. Methods and results Two hundred patients (mean age: 79.9 ± 8.8 years) with severe AS underwent two-dimensional and speckle tracking echocardiography for the evaluation of left ventricular (LV) and RV functions, aortic valve gradients, and sPAP. A tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) ≤17mm defined RV dysfunction. RV dysfunction was detected in 48 patients (24%). At multivariable regression analysis, LV global longitudinal strain (r = 20.29, P = 0.001), mean aortic gradient (r = 0.25, P = 0.002), and LV ejection fraction (r = 0.18, P = 0.02) were well correlated with TAPSE. After a median 16-month follow-up, cardiovascular death occurred in 17 patients. At multivariate Cox regression analysis, biventricular dysfunction (TAPSE ≤17 mm and LVEF ≤50%) emerged as the strongest predictor of prognosis (hazard ratio 4.08, 95% confidence interval 1.36-12.22; P = 0.012). Conclusions RV dysfunction is common in AS patients, and this finding can likely be accounted for by the RV-LV interdependence. Given that biventricular function impairment was a strong predictor of mortality in our population, we suggest that RV dysfunction should be systematically looked for in AS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is a therapeutic alternative for high-surgical-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Two models of prosthesis are currently commercialized in France, which can be implanted either via a transarterial or a transapical approach. The aim of the study was to evaluate in a national French registry the early safety and efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (AVR) using either the Edwards SAPIEN™ or CoreValve™ in high-surgical-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. Methods and results The multicentre national registry was conducted in 16 centres between February 2009 and June 2009, under the authority of the French Societies of Cardiology and Thoracic and Cardio-Vascular Surgery. The primary endpoint was mortality at 1 month. Two hundred and forty-four high-surgical-risk patients (logistic EuroSCORE ≥20%, STS ≥10%, or contra-indication to AVR) were enrolled. Mean age was 82 ± 7 years and 43.9% were female. Edwards SAPIEN and CoreValve were implanted in 68 and 32% of patients, respectively. The approaches used were transarterial (transfemoral: 66%; subclavian: 5%) or transapical in 29%. Device success rate was 98.3% and 30-day mortality was 12.7%. Severe complications included stroke (3.6%), tamponade (2%), acute coronary occlusion (1.2%), and vascular complications (7.3%). Pacemaker was required in 11.8%. At 1 month, 88% of patients were in NYHA class II or less. Conclusion This prospective registry reflects the real-life experience of transcatheter aortic valve implantation in high-risk elderly patients in France. The early results are satisfactory in terms of feasibility, short-term haemodynamic and functional improvement, and safety. Longer term follow-up will be further assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents a case study of a 80-year-old man with symptomatic aortic stenosis who after surgical removal of the tumor underwent radiotherapy for myxofibrosarcoma.