[Percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty for congenital valvular aortic stenosis in children].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of the balloon valvuloplasty for congenital valvular aortic stenosis (AS) in children.


METHODS
A total of twenty one children with AS accepted the treatment of percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (PBAV). One of them complicated with PDA underwent PDA closure by using Amplatzer occluder in the mean time. PBAV could not be accomplished in 3 cases because the catheter could not be advanced into left ventricle and PBAV was not performed in 2 cases due to the gradient pressures across aortic valves less than 50 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa). The procedure was completed in 16 cases. The ratios of balloon/valve were 0.98 +/- 0.04 (0.92 - 1.10).


RESULTS
13 cases had more than 50% gradient reduction (81.25%), 2 had 40% - 50% gradient reduction. The follow up period ranged from 3 months to 5 years. The gradient pressures rose to more than 50 mm Hg after follow up in 3 cases and they underwent repeat balloon valvuloplasty procedure or were operated successfully. There was no moderate to severe aortic insufficiency (AI).


CONCLUSIONS
The result of balloon aortic valvuloplasty showed the significant hemodynamic improvement with relative safety in pediatric patients. PBAV provides another choice in comparison with surgery.
Wang
Wei
W
Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Xie
Chun-hong
CH
Xia
Cheng-sen
CS
Zhou
Yin-bao
YB
Gong
Fang-qi
FQ
D000293:Adolescent; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male