Short-lasting hemodynamic and clinical benefits from percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for calcific aortic stenosis.

In order to evaluate the short- and mid-term results of percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty, 40 consecutive elderly patients, who had undergone balloon valvuloplasty for calcific aortic stenosis, were prospectively followed up by means of clinical and echo-Doppler examinations. Although valvuloplasty often dramatically improves hemodynamics and relieves symptoms, these benefits seem to be short-lived in most cases. Restenosis, defined as a loss of 50% or more of the increase in aortic valve area obtained by the dilatation, has a very high rate of occurrence. Aortic balloon valvuloplasty should therefore be reserved for truly inoperable cases and can be performed in hemodynamically unstable patients, who may later undergo surgery.