Balloon valvoplasty in calcific aortic stenosis: a therapeutic alternative

Percutaneous balloon valvoplasty was used to treat calcific aortic stenosis in 3 women aged 73, 67, and 61 years, respectively. We approached through the left brachial artery in the first case and the right femoral artery in the other two. An 18 mm balloon was used in all cases, the systolic gradient being reduced from 50, 180 and 48 to 7, 50 and 35 mm Hg, respectively. A mild and transitory systemic embolization was observed in one case. Aortic regurgitation was not present in two patients either before or after valvoplasty. In the other case, a grade 1 6 murmur indicative of regurgitation prior to the procedure increased to a grade 2 6 afterwards. A small and localized aortic dissection was present in one case but disappeared in the control angiography performed 11 days later.