Premature medial layer SMC apoptosis could be part of a genetic program underlying aortic disease in patients with aortic valve malformations.

Although women referred to AVR are older and more symptomatic, operative and long-term mortality are not increased. In the oldest age group of 79 years and older, women even have a better outcome, presumably due to a longer mean life expectancy.

Left ventriculotomy is a useful approach for closure of low muscular ventricular septal defects in selected patients.

No abstract