title: Balloon aortic valvuloplasty as a bridge to liver transplantation in patients with severe aortic stenosis: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with end-stage liver disease and severe aortic stenosis pose a significant perioperative management challenge during liver transplantation (OLT). This patient population is at risk for significant morbidity and mortality and is often denied transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the successful use of balloon aortic valvuloplasty as a bridging therapy to facilitate perioperative management during OLT with traditional open aortic valve replacement after recovery from OLT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Valvuloplasty should be considered as an option to reduce perioperative risk in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kalarickal
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. Electronic address: liuq@anest.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rathor
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishag
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kangrga
mesh_terms: D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D063126:Balloon Valvuloplasty / Q000379:methods*; D058625:End Stage Liver Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index