title: Percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty as a bridge to heart transplantation.
abstract: Despite high rates of restenosis and recurrent symptoms, percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty may be a useful alternative therapy to surgery in certain patients with aortic stenosis. In this case report, we describe a potentially new indication for this procedure, namely to reduce symptoms and stabilize a patient before heart transplantation. Our patient with class IV heart failure benefited from valvuloplasty with fewer symptoms and was able to be discharged while awaiting transplantation, which was successfully performed 2 months later. Percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty should be considered as a palliative procedure in patients with severe aortic stenosis who are awaiting heart transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Division, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Vaitkus
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Herrmann
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care