Balloon aortic valvuloplasty for congenital aortic stenosis using the femoral and the carotid artery approach: A 16‐year experience from a single center

Objectives:The aim of this article is to report a 16-year experience with percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAVP) in newborns and young infants up to 3 months of age in a tertiary care cardiac reference center in a developing country and to determine its value in postponing open heart surgery. Background:Congenital aortic stenosis (AS) is a potentially life threatening disorder. BAVP and surgical procedures have similar short and medium-term efficacy. Methods:Thirty-one consecutive newborns and young infants with critical AS underwent BAVP in our department from 1991 to 2007. Mean patient age at time of the procedure was 22 days (range 2–92 days) and mean weight was 3,310 g (1,840–4,400 g). Results:There was a significant reduction in mean Doppler-derived peak gradient across the aortic valve immediately after the procedure (75.1 ± 22 versus 32.2 ± 13.02, P < 0.001), and this finding was maintained throughout follow-up. Since 2003, when the carotid approach became routine practice, no major vascular complications were observed. Mean time of follow-up was 81 months (5 days–196 months) with only two deaths (7.4%). Only 24% patients required surgical reintervention on the aortic valve during follow-up. Survival free from aortic valve surgery was 80% at 24 months, 66% at 63 months, and 50% at 80 months. Conclusion:Percutaneous intervention for relief of critical aortic stenosis in newborns in a tertiary center of a developing country is safe and has excellent short and long-term results comparable to other centers throughout the world. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.