Innovations in aortic valve therapy for elderly patients

In the aging population of the USA, the burden of aortic valve disease continues to be a major contributor to mortality and morbidity, affecting millions of patients annually. While traditional surgical management has produced excellent results, many elderly patients are not good surgical candidates for invasive procedures. Recently, considerable effort has been placed in developing less invasive approaches that will benefit the elderly. Currently, a wide range of minimally invasive technologies exist at the surgeon’s disposal, including percutaneous and transcatheter-based devices. In this review, we examine the current gold-standard therapies and outcomes, as well as the exciting approaches that are being tested. Finally, we address the future direction in management of aortic valve disease in the elderly and its impact on clinical practice.