Quality of life in patients over 70 years of age after heart valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies on valve replacement in patients over 70 years of age have been concerned with early and long-term outcome. Little is known, however, of the quality of life (QOL) of survivors following surgery. METHODS: Thirty-one consecutive patients, mean age 74.0+/-3.1 years, who underwent heart valve replacement were reviewed and questioned as to their physical and social activities before and after surgery and compared with 75 patients aged less than 70 years old who underwent similar procedures during the same time interval. QOL was measured by using the Rosser distress and disability scores. RESULTS: Hospital mortality in the elderly group was the same as in the younger group (9.7% vs 2.7%, p = 0.121). Median 5-year survival was 79% in the elderly group and 92% in the younger group (p = 0.068). Overall morbidity due to valve-related complications was 3.55%/patient-year in the elderly group and 2. 35%/patient-year in the younger group, and freedom from all valve-related complications at 5 years was 76%, and 83%, respectively (p = 0.202). There were significant improvements in the distress and disability scores postoperatively (mean interval: 32. 4+/-20.4 months). The QOL value rose from 0.960 to 0.981 in the elderly group (p = 0.0004), and from 0.975 to 0.984 in the younger group (p = 0.07), suggesting that the magnitude of improvement in the elderly group was superior to that in the younger group. CONCLUSIONS: Heart valve replacement in patients over the age of 70 years was associated with reasonable early and mid-term morbidity. We believe that significant improvements in the symptoms, functional status, and QOL of the patients can be expected.     

Aortic valve replacement in patients age 70 years and older: early and late results

This retrospective analysis was performed to determine the early and late outcome in patients 70 years and older undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). From October 1994 to May 2001, 49 patients (24 men and 25 women, age 70 to 88 years [mean 74 +/- 4.6 years]) underwent primary AVR with or without concomitant procedures. Twenty-one received mechanical valves and 28 bioprostheses. Age was different between both groups: 72 +/- 2.3 years (mechanical) and 76 +/- 5.1 years (bioprosthetic) (p = 0.0005). Aortic stenosis was present in 25 patients (51%). Follow-up was 100% complete at a mean follow-up of 2.9 years (range 0.3-6.5 years). Overall hospital mortality was 4.1% (2/49). There were no postoperative complications in 24% of patients. Postoperative hospital stay or hospital survival was 27 +/- 13 days. Survival at 3 and 5 years was 89 +/- 5% and 80 +/- 7%, respectively. Three late deaths were due to noncardiac causes and 1 each had a cardiac or valve-related cause (thromboembolism). Other valve-related complications such as anticoagulant-related hemorrhage, perivalvular leak, endocarditis, prosthetic valve failure, and reoperation were not noted in any of the 49 patients. The actuarial survival curve was similar in each group of bioprosthetic versus mechanical and septuagenarians versus octogenarians. Under the selection criteria for AVR currently applied in our hospital, geriatric patients showed a satisfactory early outcome and medium-term survival benefit.     

Aortic valve replacement in patients 75 years old and older

A consecutive group of 100 patients in the eighth decade of life who had aortic valve replacement (AVR) from 1975 through 1986 were retrospectively studied. Eighty-five of them were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Class III or IV. Isolated AVR was performed in 44 patients and AVR with concomitant procedures, in 56. Perioperative mortality (30 days) was 3%, and perioperative morbidity included 83 complications in 60 patients. Long-term follow-up was available on 93 patients, 71 of whom were alive and 22 of whom were dead. Sixty-eight of the 71 long-term survivors are now in NYHA Class I or II. The low rate of perioperative mortality and the improved quality of life after AVR support the performance of this procedure in this older population.     

70岁以上心脏病患者手术治疗体会

目的 总结70岁以上心脏病患者的手术治疗体会。方法 自1995年5月至2000年7月进行70岁以上高龄患者心脏手术23例,单纯冠状动脉搭桥术13例,单纯瓣膜手术5例,瓣膜手术同时冠状动脉搭桥术3例,心包剥脱同期冠状动脉桥术1例,左房粘液瘤摘除术1例。结果 术后出现并发症5例（21．7％）,死亡1例（4．3％）,无围手术期心肌梗塞、高血压危象和酮症酸中毒等。存活22例随访1个月－5年,心功能和生活质量明显改善。结论 高龄心脏病应及时就诊,一旦有手术适应证应及早外科治疗,临床效果满意,积极的围术期管理是手术成功的关键。     

Aortic valve replacement in elderly patients

The results for 62 consecutive patients aged 70 or more given aortic valve replacement (A.V.R.) between 1970 and 1982 are reported. All the patients were in the New York Heart Association (N.Y.H.A.) functional class III (29%) or IV (71%); 54.8% had angina and 30.6% had experienced syncope. Forty patients had aortic stenosis (A.S.), 10 had aortic regurgitation and 12 had mixed aortic valve disease. The operative myocardial infarction rate was 6.4%. Tilting disk valves were used. Eighty percent of the patients were anticoagulated with Warfarin whilst twenty percent received only antiplatelet drugs. All the patients were followed up for a mean period of 26 months; late mortality was 22.6% with 4.8% cardiac deaths. The thromboembolic rate was 1.6% and the disinsertion rate was 3.2%. Cerebral stroke was fatal in 3 cases in anticoagulated patients but the mechanism of the accident was not known. At the termination of the study 93% of surviving patients were in N.Y.H.A. class I or II. No patient was in class IV. The probability of five year survival is 71% for the entire group.     

Aortic valve replacement in patients over 80 years of age: a comparative standard for balloon valvuloplasty

Elderly patients who develop symptomatic aortic valvular malfunction have a grave prognosis. Until recently they have not been seriously considered for active treatment, such as valvular surgery or balloon valvuloplasty. Between January 1972 and July 1989, 88 patients over the age of 80 years underwent aortic valve replacement and have been prospectively followed for a total of 185 patient-years. The majority were in New York Heart Association functional class III (48%) or IV (48%) preoperatively. Valvular pathology was pure aortic stenosis in 81%, regurgitation alone in 6%, and mixed lesions in 13% of the cases. Before 1982 the majority of patients received mechanical valves, whereas tissue valves have predominated since then (76% of total). Forty-three percent of the patients had concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting. The overall operative mortality was 16%. Emergency surgery, isolated aortic valve replacement, advanced preoperative functional class, and female gender carried a statistically higher operative mortality. The overall actuarial survival (standard error) at 5 years was 64(7)%. Survival was significantly higher at 5 years for concomitant coronary bypass grafting than for isolated aortic valve replacement, 70 (11)% versus 59(8%), and for males compared to females, 73(9)% versus 55(9)%. The 5-year event-free rates for valve-related death and valve re-replacement were 97(2)% and 93(5)%, respectively. These data provide a firm basis for aortic valve replacement as the standard form of treatment in patients over 80.     

Aortic valve replacement with the Nicks annulus enlargement procedure 12 years after mitral valve replacement.

An aortic valve replacement was successfully performed employing the Nicks annulus enlargement procedure in a case of aortic valve stenosis with small annulus 12 years after mitral valve replacement. Previous mitral valve replacement does not preclude feasibility of the Nicks procedure.     

Long term results of cardiac valve replacement in patients aged 75 years and older.

From June 1978 to December 1989, 158 patients over 75 years of age (mean: 78 years; range 75 to 86 years) underwent 164 valve replacements: 134 in the aortic, 18 in the mitral and 6 in double mitral and aortic positions. One hundred and seven of these valves (66%) were bioprostheses, 93 aortic and 14 mitral and 57 valves (34%) were mechanical prostheses; 47 aortic and 10 mitral. Hospital mortality (less than or equal to 30 days) was 7% (11 patients, all in NYHA class III or IV) but was higher in patients who had undergone associated procedures (9.8%; 6/61 patients) or in patients who had mitral valve replacements (11%) and in double valve replacement (16.6%). Because of a minimal delay of one year, long term follow-up information (100%) was only obtained from the first 110 patients discharged from hospital. Late mortality has been 13.6% and actuarial survival at 11 years was 71.5% +/- 5. Therefore, despite a hospital mortality of more than twice that of patients operated upon under 75 years of age (3.3%), an actuarial survival at 11 years, similar to that of patients under 75 years (77 +/- 5%) and the functional improvement obtained (95% of survivors are NYHA class I or II) certainly justify surgery in these patients. Because of the incidence of anticoagulant related hemorrhages in these patients (1.7% patient year) and since, structural deterioration of the bioprostheses was non existent in this series, a bioprosthesis appears to be the best valvular substitute in patients over 75 years of age.     

Postoperative complications and survival after pancreatoduodenectomy in patients aged over 70 years

An analysis of postoperative complications and survival was conducted in 31 patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for carcinoma of the pancreas or periampullary carcinoma. Of them, 11 were over 70 years of age and 20 were under 70. Anastomotic leakage was the most common complication after PD. Definite pancreatic leakage was found in one patient in the over 70 group, and one case each of pancreatic, biliary, and gastric leakage were found in the under 70 group. All complications were treated conservatively without any further operative intervention. The overall morbidity rate was 41.9% (13/31), being 45.5% (5/11) in the over 70 group and 40.0% (8/20) in the under 70 group, and no operative deaths occurred within 30 days after surgery. The cumulative survival rate of the patients aged over 70 years with carcinoma of the pancreas or periampullary carcinoma did not differ significantly from the rate of those under 70. It was thus concluded that PD achieves an adequate prognosis and survival in patients over 70 years of age.     

70岁以上高龄患者行腹腔镜胆道探查术175例报告

目的:探讨为70岁以上高龄患者行腹腔镜胆道探查取石术的可行性。方法:回顾分析为175例70岁以上高龄患者行腹腔镜胆道探查取石术的临床资料。结果:一期缝合胆总管37例,T管引流138例;一次性取尽结石82例,术后经T管瘘道取石80例,残余结石13例,残余率7%;手术时间60~120 min,平均(94±18)min;术中出血量20~100 ml,平均(45±20)ml;术后肠功能恢复时间2~5 d,平均(2.5±0.3)d;住院5~12 d,平均(8.3±1.2)d;患者均治愈出院,无严重并发症发生。结论:70岁以上高龄老年胆管结石患者心肺功能良好,经充分的术前准备后,术中控制手术时间,行腹腔镜胆道探查取石术是安全、有效的。     

70岁以上老年人胆道疾病的外科处理

目的探讨７０岁以上老年胆道疾病的外科治疗方法及效果。方法回顾性总结１９９２年１月～１９９７年１２月间１０３例７０岁以上老年人胆道疾病手术治疗情况。结果本组有合并症６４例，占６２１％。胆囊切除５４例，胆囊切除及胆总管探查３９例，胆肠内引流５例，左肝外叶切除、胆囊造瘘各１例。术后发生并发症２４例（２３３％），其中急诊手术组为４０％，择期手术组为１４７％。总死亡率３９％。结论虽然７０岁以上老年人合并症多，但在全面了解病情，充分术前准备后，适时进行手术治疗，并采取合适的手术方式，可提高手术成功率，降低并发症率和死亡率。     

Aortic valve replacement with a 16-mm CarboMedics valve in adult patients.

Management of the small aortic root is a significant problem for the surgeon with regard to operative technique and selection of the prosthesis. We report on four adults with a small aortic root who underwent aortic valve replacement with a 16-mm CarboMedics bileaflet valve. All patients now lead normal lives. Postoperative Doppler measurements demonstrated an acceptable transprosthetic gradient.     

Resection for cancers of the pancreatic head in patients aged 70 years or over.

OBJECTIVE: To find out if resections of cancers of the head of pancreatic are justified in patients over the age of 70 years. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: University hospital, Germany. SUBJECTS: 519 patients with cancers of the pancreatic head, 93 (18%) of whom were aged 70 or over. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of outcomes between those aged 70 or over, and those aged less than 70. RESULTS: There were 247 ductal adenocarcinomas, 134 carcinomas of the papilla of Vater, 79 carcinomas of the distal common bile duct, and 59 miscellaneous tumours. Of all variables compared (age, sex, symptoms, operations, clinical and pathological stage. morbidity, mortality, and long-term survival) the only significant difference between the groups was that leaks from the pancreaticojejunostomy occured more often in the older age group (p = 0.02). However, this did not influence overall morbidity or mortality. CONCLUSION: Patients' age is not a limiting factor in attempts at curative resection of cancers of the head of pancreas. If the tumour is resectable and patient is motivated and well enough, resection is indicated whatever the age.