Long-term survival was investigated in 202 patients who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) with 19 mm valves. There were 171 women with a mean age of 69+/-9 years and 31 men with a mean age of 64+/-13 years. Patients had a mean body surface area of 1.61+/-0.13 m(2). Patient-prosthesis mismatch was moderate in 196 and severe in six patients. The mean follow-up for all patients was 78 months. There were 79 late deaths. The actuarial survival rates for all patients were 95+/-1% at 1 year, 75+/-2% at 5 years, 56+/-2% at 10 years, 41+/-2% at 15 years, 34+/-3% at 20 years and 34+/-2% at 25 years. Patients over 70 years old had a lower survival rate (P=0.0001). There were significant differences between ejection fraction (EF) >55% and EF <55% (P=0.0305). AVR with 19 mm valves appeared to provide satisfactory mid-term survival. Age and low EF were risk factors for shorter survival.