It depends. On you, your overall health and condition (which has some predictive validity for your longevity), your history, and on the skill and experience of the person whom you hope will do the repairs. Valve repairs are quite routine now. They're still rocket science, but everyone's putting up rockets...aren't they?

My father had a TAVR (trans-catheter aortic valve replacement) last year in July. He had turned 93 three months earlier. He was asked to overnight in the local Heart House accommodations, a small non-profit residence used by the organization for people who need heart remedies but who must come from out of town. Next morning, we drove home uneventfully, and a recent CT scan showed his valve is working nicely. Even better, it's still where they left it.

I had AFIB, severe left atrial regurgitation, atrial valve not opening properly, no comorbidities. Everyone is different, but here is my experience for what it's worth. I had mitral valve repair, ablation for AFIB, and LAAC at 78, two years and 5 months ago. No more AFIB (it can work permanently). I exercise and eat smartly (low in calories, sugar, salt, and caffeine).

I had a great surgeon at WakeMed in Raleigh, Dr. Boulton, who did all of the heart stuff. That was key of course. You can contact his office to send your test results, especially the latest echo, to Dr. Byron Boulton; set up a consultation visit. He is director of the WakeMed Structural Heart Program at WakeMed in Raleigh, NC. Phone (919) 231-6333.