Short-lasting hemodynamic and clinical benefits from percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for calcific aortic stenosis.
In order to evaluate the short- and mid-term results of percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty, 40 consecutive elderly patients, who had undergone balloon valvuloplasty for calcific aortic stenosis, were prospectively followed up by means of clinical and echo-Doppler examinations. Although valvuloplasty often dramatically improves hemodynamics and relieves symptoms, these benefits seem to be short-lived in most cases. Restenosis, defined as a loss of 50% or more of the increase in aortic valve area obtained by the dilatation, has a very high rate of occurrence. Aortic balloon valvuloplasty should therefore be reserved for truly inoperable cases and can be performed in hemodynamically unstable patients, who may later undergo surgery.
Chioin
R
R
Servizio di Emodinamica-Cattedra di Cardiologia, University of Padua, Italy.
Ramondo
A
A
Chirillo
F
F
Isabella
G
G
Razzolini
R
R
Martini
M
M
Dalla Volta
S
S
D000368:Aged; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization; D004452:Echocardiography; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence