Protocolo de indicaciones quirúrgicasde las valvulopatías

Although in the Western world valvular heart diseases are less frequent than ischemic heart diseases, in Spain valvular pathology requires more frequent intervention than ischemic disease. In recent years, the emergence of percutaneous heart valve implants and the improvement of surgical valve repair techniques, have changed therapeutic approaches in the treatment of valvulopathies. An increasing numbers of elderly patients are being referred and time new surgical risk factors have been proposed. Several guidelines have been published in order to help physicians to select the best possible surgical management strategies for the individual patient suffering from valvular heart disease.