A Review of Surgical Aortic Valve Repair. Indications and techniques for the General Cardiologist

Abstract

In a recently published study on this topic, the authors conclude that their study found a "shorter life expectancy in patients after aortic valve replacement (AVR) compared with the general population. The estimated loss in life expectancy was substantial, and increased with younger age (Figure 1) [1]." Their observation may be explained, in part, by the fact that longer life expectancy predicts increased exposure to prostheticvalve-related complications such as degeneration leading to reoperation, bleeding, and thromboembolism [2].