[Quality of life or life expectancy? Criteria and sources of information in the decision-making of patients undergoing aortic valve surgery].

Objectives: Physicians are expected to involve patients adequately in the decision-making process prior to surgery. To this end, it is essential to have knowledge about the potential reasons for such a decision. In this study we investigated which information sources and decision criteria are important to patients prior to aortic valve surgery.

Risk factors for prophylactic proximal aortic replacement in the current era.

Background: Decision-making in aortic aneurysm involves careful weighing of spontaneous prognosis and operative risk. There is limited recent information regarding operative risk and risk factors using current surgical strategies.

Methods: From 1998 to 2010, 1,221 patients (60 ± 15 years, 67 % male) underwent elective proximal aortic replacement (286 ascending aortic replacement, 699 concomitant root and 387 concomitant arch replacement).