Results of balloon and surgical valvuloplasty in congenital aortic valve stenosis: A 19-year, single-center, retrospective study

Background: This study aims to compare the success, complications, and long-term outcomes of aortic balloon valvuloplasty and surgical aortic valvuloplasty in pediatric patients with congenital aortic valve stenosis. Methods: Between March 2000 and October 2019, a total of 267 procedures, including 238 balloon valvuloplasties and 29 surgical valvuloplasties, in 198 children (135 males, 63 females; mean age: 57.4±62.6 months; range, 0.03 to 219 months) were retrospectively analyzed. The hospital records, echocardiographic images, catheterization data, angiography images, and operative data were reviewed. Results: Aortic regurgitation was mild in 73 patients before balloon valvuloplasty, and none of the patients had moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation. Compared to surgical valvuloplasty, the rate of increase in the aortic regurgitation after balloon valvuloplasty was significantly higher (p=0.012). The patients who underwent balloon valvuloplasty did not need reintervention for a mean period of 46±45.6 months, whereas this period was significantly longer in those who underwent surgical valvuloplasty (mean 80.5±53.9 months) (p=0.018). The overall failure rate was 8%. Moderate-to-severe aortic regurgitation was the most important complication developing due to balloon valvuloplasty in the early period (13%). All surgical valvuloplasties were successful. The mean length of hospitalization after balloon valvuloplasty was significantly shorter than surgical valvuloplasty (p=0.026). During follow-up, a total of 168 patients continued their follow-up, and a reinterventional or surgical intervention was not needed in 78 patients (47%). Conclusion: Aortic balloon valvuloplasty can be repeated safely and helps to eliminate aortic valve stenosis without needing sternotomy. Surgical valvuloplasty can be successfully performed in patients in whom the expected benefit from aortic balloon valvuloplasty is not achieved.

Surgical and Transcatheter Treatments in Children with Congenital Aortic Stenosis

Background For patients with congenital aortic valve stenosis (AVS), comprehensive analysis of surgical aortic valvuloplasty (SAV) or balloon dilation (BD) is scarce and remains controversial. Methods This study reviewed AVS data (aortic peak gradient, aortic insufficiency, and survival and reoperation) for patients who were suitable for biventricular repair at our center in 2008 to 2018. Patients were categorized into two subgroups based on age (≤3 or >3 months). Results A total of 194 patients were treated, including 124 with SAV and 70 with BD. Resulting data revealed that residual aortic gradient at discharge was worse for BD (p = 0.001). While for patients younger than 3 months, the relief of AVS was comparable between the two groups (p = 0.624). There was no significant difference in time-related survival between the two groups (log-rank p = 0.644). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic dimension predicted early death (p = 0.045). Survival in the two groups after 10 years was 96.8% in SAV and 95.7% in BD (p = 0.644). Freedom from reoperation after 10 years was 58.1% in SAV and 41.8% in BD patients (p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in freedom from reoperation between SAV and BD in patients younger than 3 months (p = 0.84). Multivariate analysis indicated that residual aortic peak gradient was predictive of reoperation (p = 0.038). Conclusion Both methods achieved excellent survival outcomes at our center. SAV achieved superior gradient reduction and minimized the necessity for reoperation. For patients younger than 3 months, BD rivaled SAV both in aortic stenosis relief and freedom from reoperation.

P3650Prognostic impact of post procedural aortic valve insufficiency on long-term risk for surgical aortic valve repair in patients undergoing balloon valvuloplasty for congenital aortic valve stenosis

Background Limited evidence is available regarding the prognostic impact of post procedural aortic valve insufficiency (AVI) on long-term outcome in patients with congenital aortic valve stenosis treated with balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV). Purpose To assess the prognostic impact of immediate post procedural AVI on long-term outcome in patients undergoing BAV for congenital aortic valve stenosis. Methods We analyzed 89 patients (median age 4 years, range 6 days to 25 years), undergoing BAV during 2004–2017, from a prospective registry of a tertiary university center, with a median follow-up period of 4 years. Patients were classified into two groups based on presence of immediate post procedural AVI grade more than “+1/4” as assessed by echocardiography. Kaplan Meier cumulative mortality curves for groups above vs. bellow post procedural AVI grade “+1/4” were compared with log-rank test. Cox regression model was used to assess the risk for surgical aortic valve repair (SAVR) in long-term follow up with patients without worsening of AVI after BAV serving as the reference group. Results During follow up, SAVR was performed in 20% (n=18) of patients. Patients with immediate post procedural AVI grade more than “+1/4” after BAV had significantly higher long-term risk for SAVR compared to those without AVI worsening (72% vs. 18%, log-rank p<0.001). When adjusted for other significant aortic valve repair predictors, such as bicuspid aortic valve, neonatal age, residual aortic valve peak gradient >35 mm Hg, the presence of AVI grade more than “+1/4” immediately after BAV was independently associated with 6-fold (HR=5.60, 95% CI 2.03–15.42, p=0.001) increased risk for SAVR. Kaplan-Meier freedom from SAVR curves Conclusion The presence of post procedural AVI grade more than “+1/4” in patients undergoing BAV for congenital aortic valve stenosis is independently associated with the increased risk for SAVR in long-term follow up.