LONG-TERM RESULTS AFTER BALLOON PULMONARY VALVULOPLASTY IN ADULTS

Percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty for congenital pulmonary valve stenosis was performed in 40 adult patients (aged 18 to 56 years ). The duration of follow-up was 24.5 +/- 11.5 months. The peak systol ic pressure gradient from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery decreased from 107 +/- 29 mm Hg to 37 +/- 25 mm Hg immediately after t he procedure. On follow-up, gradient obtained either by cardiac cathet erization or Doppler echocardiography was 31 +/- 13 mm Hg. In eight pa tients with residual gradient after valvuloplasty of >50 mm, the mean peak systolic gradient decreased from 74.5 +/- 18.3 to 33.5 +/- 13.9 m m Hg on follow-up. Thus balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of adult patients with pulmonic stenosis; there is a tendency for high residual gradients to regress o n follow-up.