ABSTRACT
Aortic valve disease in the elderly is dominated by calcific aortic stenosis. For worthwhile event-free survival in the very elderly it is important to achieve rapid improvement in ventricular mechanics, functional class and quality of life, without surgical or valve-related morbidity.1,2 The type of valve prosthesis has an important bearing on postoperative left ventricular function, particularly in smaller sizes.3 Comparisons between mechanical valves and bioprostheses tend to favour the bioprosthesis up to 5 years. After this time, tissue failure intervenes, so by 10 years the advantage is in favour of mechanical valves.4
