Results of percutaneous catheter valvuloplasty for calcified aortic stenosis in the elderly.

Percutaneous catheter valvuloplasty was performed in 37 patients between 60-88 years of age (mean age 74.5 years): 16 of these patients were in functional class IV, with pulmonary oedema at the time of the procedure. A good haemodynamic result was obtained in 32 patients, but 3 of them had to be operated upon subsequently, because of persistence of their symptoms. Two successfully dilated patients died in the hospital, one of cardiac failure following myocardial dysfunction caused by multiple infarcts which had no relation to the aortic dilatation, the other of neurological complications after dilatation. Thus, the primary success rate was 27/37 (73%). The first 10 patients with good initial results have been followed up for more than 6 months. The functional result has been maintained in 8 cases with moderate myocardial dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction 0.41 to 0.7), one with restenosis at Doppler assessment. Two patients with severe myocardial dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction 0.22 and 0.25) had recurrent cardiac failure, with valvular restenosis in one case. One of them died at home. Percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty is therefore an effective means of treating calcified aortic stenosis in elderly patients. The benefits of this procedure have been maintained for as long as 6 months provided myocardial dysfunction was moderate. At its present stage of development, the technique allows only partial reduction of the aortic stenosis, which may explain the absence of long-term improvement in patients with severe myocardial disease.