[Diagnosis and therapy of acquired heart valve defects in patients of advanced age].

Advantages and disadvantages of elective cardiothoracic surgery in patients over the age of 60 with acquired heart valve defects are shown in table 8. An important improvement in survival rates can be noticed in patients with decompensated aortic and mitral valve defects. Quality of life is ameliorated in all patients who need an operation because of valvular heart defect, mainly in aortic stenosis, which on principle can be considered as operable.