[Congenital aortic valve stenosis. Long-term results after valvulotomy].

The cases of 73 patients undergoing valvulotomy for congenital valvular aortic stenosis between 1957 and 1982 were reviewed. Data was updated after recalling patients to the outpatient clinic and/or analysis of the results of a questionnaire sent to the patient's family doctor or cardiologist. Babies less than 12 months old at the time of surgery were excluded from the study. Operation consisted of valvulotomy under direct control with few associated procedures as the valvular lesion was isolated in 89 p. 100 of cases. 5 patients died in the first 30 postoperative days, an operative mortality of 5,4 p. 100. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 25 years, with 15 patients having been followed up for over 10 years. 6 patients were reoperated with no operative mortality. 2 of whom have since undergone a second reoperation. Of the 59 patients not re-operated, 54 were class I and 5 class II of the NYHA. Of the latter group, 4 are candidates for aortic valve replacement for significant aortic regurgitation. The actuarial survival graph shows a 92.82 p. 100 probability of survival at 5 years, and 86.83 p. 100 at 10 years. Aortic valvulotomy remains a palliative operation which does not protect the patient from subsequent sudden death.