The authors report the results of surgery performed between 1978 and 1988 for calcific aortic stenosis in 67 consecutive patients over 80 years of age; the operative risk is assessed ant the results are compared with those of balloon valvuloplasty. The operative risk seems to be relatively low (6 deaths; 8.9%). All survivors were followed-up and evaluated. The long-term results show a big improvement in survival (78.2% at 3 years) and in functional class (96% of patients in Classes I and II of the NYHA Classification). By comparison, the results of balloon valvuloplasty were very mediocre and are now generally considered to be disappointing to such an extent that the indications of dilatation seem very limited and difficult to define.