Balloon valvuloplasty in rheumatic aortic valve stenosis: immediate and long-term results.

To study the immediate and long-term results of balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) in a large cohort of patients with rheumatic valvular aortic stenosis. Single tertiary care center retrospective data analysis of immediate and long-term outcomes in patients following BAV from 2000 to 2008. Ninety-two patients with rheumatic aortic stenosis (AS) were studied who underwent BAV. Mean age of patients was 21.7 years (95 % CI 14.3-28.9) with mean follow-up period of 5.7 years (±SD 1.3). Intervention resulted in successful BAV (more than 50 % reduction in baseline gradient) in 79 (85.9 %) subjects (Group A) and partially successful BPV (<50 % reduction in baseline gradient) in 8 (8.7 %) subjects (Group B). BAV failed in 5 (5.4 %) subjects (Group C). Concomitant balloon mitral valvuloplasty was done in 23/92 cases. Mean left ventricular systolic pressure decreased from 165.6 (95 % CI 142.7-196.3) to 110.9 mmHg (95 % CI 92.1-129.6), (P < 0.001) and mean aortic valve (AV) gradient from 50.7 (95 % CI 35.12-66.22) to 27.2 mmHg (95 % CI 25.83-31.23), (P < 0.001). The mean change in ejection fraction and mean AV gradient were significantly different between success (Groups A and B) and failure groups (P < 0.001). Different grades of aortic regurgitation were noted in 32 (34.78 %) patients post BAV (severe regurgitation in 2.18 %). Anova post hoc analysis showed sustained gradient reductions at 1- and 5-year follow-up (P > 0.05). The need for surgery was much lower in Group A (2.5 %) compared to Group B (50 %) and C (100 %). BAV is an effective treatment strategy in dominant AS in multi valvular rheumatic disease situations. Combined aortic and mitral valvuloplasty was performed in one-fourth of study patients.

Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty in adults: immediate and long-term outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aim was to determine the immediate and long-term outcomes of balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (BPV) in a large cohort of adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with congenital valvular pulmonic stenosis. METHODS: A retrospective data analysis was conducted of the immediate and long-term outcomes of adult patients who had undergone BPV between 2000 and 2012 at a single tertiary care center. RESULTS: A total of 132 patients (mean age 27.7 years; 95% CI 21.12-34.76) underwent BPV, with a mean follow up period of 5.7 years (95% CI 4.37-6.98). Intervention resulted in successful BPV (> 50% reduction in baseline gradient) in 124 patients (94%), and a partially successful BPV (20-50% reduction in baseline gradient) in eight patients (6%). The mean right ventricular (RV) systolic pressure was decreased from 90.6 mmHg (95% CI 84.90-96.33) to 50.9 mmHg (95% CI 47.17-54.61) (p < 0.001), and the pulmonary valve (PV) gradient was reduced from 70.7 mmHg (95% CI 65.12-76.22) to 29.0 mmHg (95% CI 25.83-32.23) (p < 0.001). The mean percentage difference in PV gradient in both genders was 60.23% in males and 57.44% in females (95% CI 55.33-65.12 and 55.32-61.56, respectively) (p > 0.05). Pulmonary valve regurgitation was reported in 17.4% of patients, and was not related to either successful outcome or balloon size. The gradient reductions were maintained after five and 10 years of follow up. Two patients (1.5%) developed restenosis that required repeat BPV. There was no referral for urgent surgery. CONCLUSION: BPV in adults produced excellent long-term clinical results, there being no gender-related difference in outcome. In addition, the need for reintervention was very low.