Schedule a consult with the cardiologist which you can attend with your mother. Take with you a list of questions about the risks and benefits of each of these options. Physicians usually appreciate patients and their families being well organized and ready with good questions. Be ready to take notes. If you choose surgery you'll want to have a similar discussion with the surgeon. Ask about surgical risks including complications on the table and in recovery. If you choose to do nothing, at what point will your mother be so weakened that she won't be an acceptable surgical risk if you change your minds?

Don't hesitate to ask for a second opinion. Ask all of the physicians which option(s)they would choose for their own mothers.

You're looking for data and, while surgery is both art and science, you should be able to get some idea of favorable outcomes for each of your options.

Your mother's physician will consider underlying medical problems which will also need to be managed throughout the course of treatment. Hypertension, pulmonary disease, cardiac dysrythmias, and diabetes, for instance are all common problems in the geriatric population and will complicate treatment. Where is your mother's internist in all of this? S/he should also be part of the decision.

In my opinion you should also strongly consider quality of life in you mom's remaining years following each of these courses of treatment.

PM me if you like, I'm up to my ears in this stuff myself.

Good luck,

D