Complications and results following transseptal or retrograde transaortic catheterization of the left ventricle in patients with aortic valve stenosis

: Retrograde transvalvular left heart catheterization was successful in 46 cases out of 71 consecutive patients with severe valvular aortic stenosis. In 16 patients the transseptal route was used and in the remaining 9 patients surgery was performed without left ventricle pressure recordings. There were no differences in aortic valve area or in pressure gradients in pure stenosis (n = 29) whether retrograde catheterization succeeded or not. In combined aortic valve disease with prevalence of stenosis (n = 42) transaortic catheterization succeeded less frequently in patients with higher pressure gradients. The complication rate increased with duration of catheterization, but without adverse consequences for any patient.