RÉSUMÉ
PURPOSE: To show the initial experience of Institute of Cardiology of Rio Grande do Sul in the treatment of congenital valvular aortic stenosis with percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty. METHODS: Twenty four patients were submitted to the procedure, 14 males and 10 females. The mean age 7 years (4 days-17 years). Four patients were aged below 30 days and three patients had previous surgical valvuloplasty. The percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty were made the retrograde approach in all patients. RESULTS: The peak systolic pressure gradient was reduced from 65.96 +/- 22.68 to 27.08 +/- 18.74 mmHg. The procedure resulted in aortic regurgitation in seven patients and worsened aortic regurgitation in two patients. One patient had cardiac arrest that was reverted by cardiopulmonary resuscitation, this patient had hospital discharge without sequel. Five patients had acute femoral artery thrombosis, and hemorrhage in the site of puncture happened in one patient. CONCLUSION: The percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty results in effective reduction of the peak systolic pressure gradient, it is a save and effective therapy in patients with congenital valvular aortic stenosis. Further evaluation of the long term results are necessary for definitive conclusions.