Does open heart surgery have risks of stroke and other complications?
Patient: My 82 yr old mother has severe aortic stenosis, she has had two previous open heart surgeries mitral valve repair and then mitral valve replaced.  Her drs do no feel she can endure another surgery and have suggested balloon valuoplasty of her aortic. Ihave real concerns with the risk of stroke as well as possible other complications resulting in having to do open-heart or possible death.  Any advice would be appreciated Doctor: Hello , 3rd open heart surgery at 82 years would surely be a risky proposition particularly if she is flail . There is definitive risk of stroke however that is not a major and only concern . It's her probability of sustaining and surgery and weaning off from the Ventilator and Bypass machine . Balloon aortic valvulaoplasy would be decent palliative procedure which can curtail her symptoms to a great extent . I would hereby suggest an alternative of Transcatheter aortic valve replacement  ( TAVR ) if the facility for same is available. Do discuss the same with your doctor . Regards Dr. Mody