Minimally invasive aortic valve replacement in octogenarians performed via a right anterior thoracotomy approach.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: A significant number of patients aged > or =80 years are denied aortic valve surgery due to the assumption of poor outcomes with surgery. The study aim was to evaluate the outcomes of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (AVR), performed via a right anterior thoracotomy approach, in octogenarians. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of all minimally invasive isolated AVRs in patients aged > or =80 years performed at the authors' institution between February 2009 and April 2014. The operative times, postoperative complications, hospital length of stay and mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 255 consecutive patients (133 males, 122 females; mean age 83.5 +/- 3 years) was identified. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 57 +/- 10%, and 31 patients (12.2%) had prior cardiac surgery. The median predicted Society of Thoracic Surgeons mortality score was 3.2% (IQR 2.4-4.4%). Postoperatively, four patients (1.6%) had cerebrovascular accidents, 38 (14.9%) had prolonged ventilation, four (1.6%) required reoperation for bleeding, and eight (3.1%) had acute kidney injury. The median intensive care unit length of stay was 48.5 h (IQR 27-92 h) and the postoperative length of stay was 7 days (IQR 5-9 days). The 30-day mortality was 3.1% (n=8), and the combined end point of morbidity and mortality was 19.2% (n=49). The all-cause mortality at one and three years was 6.7%, and 10.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive AVR in octogenarians, performed via a right anterior thoracotomy approach, is associated with a low morbidity and mortality. This applies to both primary or reoperative surgery.