Advanced age per se should not be an exclusion criterion for minimally invasive aortic valve replacement.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The introduction of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), coupled with the increasing number of elderly patients requiring cardiac surgery, has given rise to an intense debate on the most appropriate treatment strategy for this high-risk population. The study aim was to compare clinical outcomes in older versus younger patients undergoing minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (AVR).

Methods: Between March 2010 and July 2012, 66 patients undergoing minimally invasive isolated AVR with the sutureless Perceval S bioprosthesis (Sorin Group, Saluggia, Italy) were allocated to two groups according to age > or = 80 years (group A, n = 25) or < 80 years (group B, n = 41).

The Perceval S aortic valve has the potential of shortening surgical time: does it also result in improved outcome?

Background: Sutureless aortic valve prostheses have the potential of shortening surgical time. However, whether shorter operative times may also result in improved patient outcomes remains to be established.

Methods: One hundred patients underwent minimally invasive isolated aortic valve replacement.