Procedures and Outcomes of Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Adults

The ideal aortic valve substitute remains elusive. Bioprosthetic valves are the replacement option of choice in elderly patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). When implanted in young and middle-aged adults, both bioprosthetic and mechanical valves are associated with excess mortality compared with the age- and sex-matched general population. The Ross procedure is the only operation that can restore normal life expectancy in young and middle-aged adults undergoing AVR. In this article, the authors review the various options for surgical AVR and examine their contemporary applications and outcomes.