This review emphasizes that echocardiography is the diagnostic modality of choice for aortic stenosis and that aortic valve replacement should be considered in elderly patients with acceptable surgical risk.
Since the incidence of aortic stenosis increases with age, physicians are likely to encounter this valvular disorder with greater frequency as populations continue to age. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the etiology, natural history, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of aortic stenosis in the elderly. Echocardiography is the diagnostic modality of choice, suitable for the serial assessment of disease progression. Cardiac catheterization should be reserved mainly for the evaluation of possible concomitant coronary artery disease prior to cardiac surgery. Aortic valve replacement represents the only proven treatment modality for symptomatic, hemodynamically significant aortic stenosis. Advanced age is not a contraindication for surgery, and valve replacement can be performed in any patient with an acceptable surgical risk.
Sarić et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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