Development of Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment for Aortic Stenosis in Older Patients

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the term used to describe the narrowing of the valve within the aorta (aortic valve). The restricted opening of the valve results in the obstruction of the left ventricular outflow leading to a reduced volume of blood entering the systemic circulation. Once patients develop symptoms, particularly of chest pain, breathlessness, syncope and heart failure, the prognosis becomes poor with drug treatments providing only symptomatic relief. Increasingly older patients with multi-morbidities are developing AS and as such the traditional open-heart surgical methods of treatment are less well tolerated or contraindicated. This article discusses some recent developments in less invasive surgical techniques for older patients with comorbid health problems which is hoped to improve outcomes for older patients with AS.