title: Role of balloon dilatation of the aortic valve in pregnant patients with severe aortic stenosis.
abstract: The outcome of unrelieved severe symptomatic aortic stenosis in pregnancy is poor. Though the valve lesion can be corrected surgically before delivery at a low risk to the mother, cardiopulmonary bypass during pregnancy carries a high risk to the fetus. Two patients in the second trimester of pregnancy were successfully managed with balloon dilatation of the aortic valve. Both delivered healthy infants and were well a year later. Balloon dilatation of the aortic valve is a useful palliative procedure in the management of pregnant women with severe aortic stenosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Banning
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000628:therapy*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second