Aortic valvuloplasty using the transatrial route in aortic valve stenosis

: We describe a new technique for aortic valvuloplasty in four patients. The balloon catheter was inserted percutaneously from the right femoral vein over a long guidewire introduced into the right femoral vein and advanced transseptally to the left atrium and left ventricle and drawn out of the body through the left femoral artery using an intravascular retriever set. With both ends of the long guidewire under manual control outside the body, the balloon could be easily fixed during inflation. The procedure was easy to perform and caused no complications.