[Aortic valve stenosis without apparent "gradient". Demonstration and treatment in heart catheterization].

The case of a six years-old girl with Ductus Arterious, Pulmonary Hypertension, Aortic Stenosis and poor left ventricular function is presented. No aortic valvular gradient could be found on a simple aortic and left ventricular pressure measurement, but it could be recorded when transvalvular aortic flow was increased while the Ductus Arteriosus was occluded with a balloon. This manoeuver forced an increase in pulmonary blood flow by avoiding right-to-left ductal shunting, thus increasing the venous return to the left heart and across the aortic valve. The aortic valve stenosis was subsequently relieved by percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty performed in two separate instances. This was thought to be particularly indicated in this case, considering the high risks of open-heart surgery.