Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty for Congenital Aortic Stenosis: A 14-Year Single Centre Review

Abstract

Background: The approach to intervention for congenital aortic valve stenosis (AS) differs depending upon centre bias toward a primary catheter or surgical approach. We therefore investigated associations with freedom from re-intervention (FFI) in the cohort of children who underwent primary balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) for congenital AS in our centre. Methods: All patients who underwent BAV as a primary procedure in the period between 2001 and 2015 in a single service were included. Echocardiographic parameters before and after catheterisation and procedural data was collected on all patients. Results: Sixty-four (64) patients underwent BAV as the primary intervention during the study period. Follow-up data was available for 60 of these. Balloon aortic valvuloplasty was performed at a median age of 143 days (range 2 days–18.8 years). Freedom from re-intervention was observed in 75% of patients with a median follow-up of 6.8 years and a mean follow-up of 3 years. Catheter-based peak-to-peak aortic valve gradients decreased from 58 ± 15.9 mmHg to 22.9 ± 13.1 mmHg. There was no short- or long-term mortality. FFI was predicted by aortic valve morphology (p < 0.01), post-BAV mean echo gradient (p = 0.03) and post-BAV regurgitation (p < 0.01). No patient had re-intervention for restenosis with post-BAV mean echo gradient <30 mmHg. Catheter gradients before and after BAV approached significance for predicting FFI (p = 0.06 and p = 0.09 respectively). Fifteen (15) patients were neonates with significantly lower aortic valve (AoV) Z-scores (mean 0.63 vs 1.76, p = 0.002) and no difference in FFI (p = 0.19). Annulus size, balloon/annulus ratio (within the range utilised) and pre-BAV echo findings were not predictive for re-intervention. Conclusions: Balloon aortic valvuloplasty is an effective primary approach to congenital valvular AS with the potential of avoiding surgical intervention in the majority of patients at all ages. Freedom from re-intervention in our cohort was associated with valve morphology and the degree of stenosis and regurgitation immediately post BAV.L20006220782018-04-09 <br />2019-03-15 <br />