European heart journal
-
European heart journal · Feb 1990
Aortic valve area evolution after percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty. A prospective trial using a combined Doppler echocardiographic and haemodynamic method.
The aortic valve area was serially evaluated in 45 patients, mean age 78 years, suffering from severe aortic stenosis who underwent percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty. The aortic valve area was calculated from haemodynamic data prior to and immediately after the procedure using the mean gradient. Serial determinations of the aortic valve area were also obtained 1 day before, 1 day after and 2 months after valvuloplasty from the thermodilution cardiac output and Doppler echocardiography mean left ventricle-to-aorta gradient. ⋯ In conclusion, in this study one third of the patients submitted to percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty had no objective improvement in calculated valve area or early restenosis after 2 months. Functional improvement was observed in one third of the patients. Immediate re-estimation of the aortic valve area from haemodynamic data at the end of the procedure may not reflect the actual effect of valvuloplasty on the aortic orifice.