A total of 33 patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty (PABV) for bridging or palliative therapy were reviewed; the emerging treatment patterns for this procedure are described. Longitudinal data suggest that PABV provides a significant reduction in peak and mean aortic valve gradients with > 12-month survival for more than half of observed patients. This supports the current application of PABV, which is currently limited to palliative care and bridging therapy to more definitive forms of future treatment, including transcatheter aortic valve implantation.
2011 MedReviews®, LLC.