Long-Term Survival of the Very Elderly Undergoing Aortic Valve Surgery

BACKGROUND: Increasing numbers of the very elderly are undergoing aortic valve procedures. We describe the short- and long-term survivorship for this cohort. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a cohort study of 7584 consecutive patients undergoing open aortic valve surgery without (51.1%; AVR) or with (48.9%; AVR + CABG) concomitant coronary artery bypass graft surgery between November 10, 1987 through June 30, 2006. Patient records were linked to the Social Security Administration's Death Master File. Survivorship was stratified by age and concomitant CABG surgery. During 39 835 person-years of follow-up, there were 2877 deaths. Among AVR, there were 3304 patients or =85 years (24 patients >90 years). Among AVR+CABG patients, there were 2890 patients or =85 years (22 patients >90 years). Median survivorship for patients undergoing isolated AVR was 11.5 years ( or =85 years); for patients undergoing AVR+CABG, median survivorship was 9.4 years ( or =85 years). Among both procedures, adjusted survivorship was significantly different across strata of age (P or =85 years (5 years). CONCLUSIONS: Survivorship among octogenarians is favorable, with more than half the patients surviving more than 6 years after their surgery. Concomitant CABG surgery does not diminish median survivorship among patients >80 years of age.