Aortic stenosis is a congenital or acquired reduction in the area of the aortic valve, resulting in obstruction of the blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta. Aortic stenosis accounts for 2-5% of all congenital heart defects and is a potentially life-threatening disorder. In adults aortic stenosis represents 34% of all valvular heart diseases. Degenerative etiology is present in 80% of...

OBJECTIVE To assess the value of pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty in the interim palliation of complex congenital heart disease and pulmonary stenosis in children, who often require numerous palliative operations before definitive surgical repair. METHODS Evaluation of pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty procedures performed over a five year period in 18 patients (age 8 days--29 years; mean 5.5 ye...

BACKGROUND Percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty is the procedure of choice for uncomplicated severe or symptomatic pulmonary stenosis. The present study describes our experience in balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty using the Inoue balloon catheter in adolescent and adult patients. AIMS To assess the immediate and mid-term outcomes of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty with Inoue balloon...

UNLABELLED Inoue-balloon percutaneous transvenous mitral valvuloplasty is conventionally performed via the right femoral vein. However, atrial transseptal access can be technically challenging. Herein, we describe a 54-year-old male who had balloon mitral valvuloplasty performed via the left femoral vein because of an anomalous inferior vena cava course, including the technical issues encounter...

There is a frequent association between aortic valve stenosis and gastrointestinal bleeding, also known as Heyde's syndrome. In these patients, the aortic valve replacement should be recommended as "gold standard." In high-surgical-risk patients, the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is an alternative option. However, the risk of bleeding recurrence, related to double antiplatelet ...

Transluminal balloon valvuloplasty is an alternative to surgical valvotomy for congenital pulmonary valve stenosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long term results (to 13.5 years) of balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty. From June 1998 to January 2012, percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty for congenital pulmonary valve stenosis was performed in 98 patients (50 males, 48 females, ...