Tolerance of normal aorta to oversized dual balloon valvuloplasty. Observations in a swine model: technical note.

The damage threshold during aortic valvuloplasty was determined in 12 normal swine subjected to inflation of oversized dual balloons. Catheters with combined balloon diameters of 1.2-2.0 times the aortic annulus were selected. Following completion of the procedure, the animals were sacrificed and examined for pathology. With combined balloon diameters less than or equal to 1.7 times the aortic annulus, there was no gross or microscopic damage. In animals with combined diameters equal to 2 times the aortic annulus, there was rupture of the aorta. This data provides further basis for the selection of catheter sizes in dual balloon aortic valvuloplasty.