title: Fatal aortic rupture: an unusual complication of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for acquired valvular aortic stenosis.
abstract: A case report complicated by a perforation of the ascending aorta during percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for acquired aortic stenosis in a bicuspid aortic valve is presented. The clinical and pathological findings are discussed. It is suggested that in patients with hard calcified valve cusps and calcifications of the aortic annulus balloon sizes exceeding the aortic diameter should be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vrolix
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piessens
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moerman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vanhaecke
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: De Geest
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000209:etiology; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000503:physiopathology