ASSESSMENT OF BALLOON VALVULOPLASTY IN COMPARISON WITH SURGICAL VALVOTOMY FOR CONGENITAL AORTIC STENOSIS

Soon after successful results of balloon valvuloplasty in treatment of congenital pulmonary stenosis, use of this technique for relief of congenital aortic stenosis (AS) was attempted in different parts of the world. With the purpose of assessment the value of valvuloplasty in comparison with surgical valvotomy in relief of congenital AS, we retrospectively studied 115 patients with valvar AS, 48 of whom underwent balloon valvuloplasty (mean age 9.63 years), and 67 subjected to surgical aortic valvotomy (mean age 10.32 years), in a six year period from 1991 to 1997 at Rajaie heart hospital. Comparison of balloon valvuloplasty with surgical valvotomy revealed that reduction in the mean pressure gradient in balloon valvuloplasty group was greater than those subjected to surgical valvotomy (73.54 vs. 45.03 mmHg, P < 0.0001). Decreased incidence of aortic insufficiency and mortality in balloon valvuloplasty in comparison with surgical valvotomy are other notable points in this study. Although it is difficult to compare the results of the two procedures and determine their different indications, our successful experience with balloon valvuloplasty for congenital AS and the safety of this procedure encourage us to use this technique for the patients with congenital AS more than ever. These results must be supported by future studies.