title: Long-term results of pulmonary balloon valvulotomy in adult patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aim was to define the long-term outcome of pulmonary balloon valvulotomy (PBV) in adult patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  PBV was performed in 87 patients (46 females, 41 males; mean age 23+/-9 years; range: 15-54 years) with congenital pulmonary valve stenosis (PS). Intermediate follow up catheterization (mean 14.6+/-5.0; range: 6-24 months) was performed after PBV in 53 patients. Clinical and Doppler echocardiography examinations were carried out annually in 82 patients (mean 8.0+/-3.9; range: 2-15 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no immediate or late deaths. The mean catheter peak pulmonary gradient (PG) before and immediately after PBV, and at intermediate follow up was 105+/-39, 34+/-26 (p <0.0001) and 17+/-14 (p <0.0001) mmHg, respectively. The corresponding values for right ventricular (RV) pressure were 125+/-38, 59+/-21 (p <0.0001) and 42+/-12 (p <0.0001) mmHg, respectively. The infundibular gradients immediately after PBV and at intermediate follow up were 31+/-23 and 14+/-9 mmHg (p <0.0001), whilst cardiac index improved from 2.68+/-0.73 to 3.1+/-0.4 l/min/m2 (p <0.05) at intermediate follow up. Doppler PG before PBV and at intermediate and long-term follow up were 91+/-33 (range 36-200) mmHg, 28+/-12 (range 10-60) mmHg (p <0.0001) and 26+/-11 mmHg (p = 0.2), respectively. New pulmonary regurgitation (PR) was noted in 21 patients (25%) after PBV. Five patients (6%) with a suboptimal result (immediate valve gradient > or =30 mmHg) developed restenosis and underwent repeat valvulotomy 6-12 months later using a larger balloon, and with satisfactory outcome. Moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in seven patients regressed after PBV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The long-term results of PBV in adults are excellent, with regression of concomitant, severe infundibular stenosis and/or severe TR. Hence, PBV should be considered as the treatment of choice for adult patients with PS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fawzy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Awad
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Galal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shoukri
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hegazy
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mimish
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Al Halees
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011664:Pulmonary Valve / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011666:Pulmonary Valve Stenosis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D012086:Reoperation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome