Long term survival after surgery for Ebstein’s anomaly in middle aged

Attenhofer Jost CH and colleagues [Outcome of Cardiac Surgery in Patients 50 Years of Age or Older With Ebstein Anomaly. Survival and Functional Improvement. J Am Coll Cardiol, 2012; 59:2101-2106] evaluated the outcome of surgery for Ebstein’s anomaly in those aged fifty years or more. Early mortality was only 4 percent and twenty year survival was 65 percent compared to 74 percent in age and sex matched controls. Eight five percent of the 81 patients included in the study had functional class III or IV symptoms and 16 percent of them had a previous cardiac surgery. Tricuspid valve replacement was needed in 73 percent of the cases and repair in 25 percent cases. Eighty nine percent had improved functional class on long term follow up. The authors conclude that the results of surgery in older patients with Ebstein’s anomaly are good and suggests early surgery in these patients.