title: Short- and midterm follow-up results of valvuloplasty with balloon catheter for congenital aortic stenosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report short and midtem follow-up results of balloon aortic valvuloplasty to treat congenital aortic stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five patients (median age: 8 years) underwent the procedure through the retrograde femoral or carotid route.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The procedure was completed in 74 patients (98.6%). The peak-to-peak systolic gradient dropped from 79.6 27.7 to 22.3 17.8 mmHg (P<0.001), the left ventricular systolic pressure dropped from 164 39.1 to 110 24.8 mmHg (P<0.001), and the left ventricular end diastolic pressure dropped from 13.3 5.5 to 8.5 8.3 mmHg (P< 0.01). Four patients (5.3%) died due to the procedure. Aortic regurgitation (AoR) appeared or worsened in 27/71 (38%) patients, and no immediate surgical intervention was required. A mean follow-up of 50 38 months was obtained in 37 patients. Restenosis and significant AoR were observed in 16.6% of the patients. The estimates for being restenosis-free and for having significant AoR in 90 months were 60% and 50%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aortic valvuloplasty was considered the initial palliative method of choice in managing congenital aortic stenosis, with satisfactory short- and midterm results.
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D001027:Aortography; D002404:Catheterization; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome