BALLOON AORTIC VALVULOPLASTY AS A BRIDGE TO AORTIC-VALVE REPLACEMENT IN CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS

This report highlights our experience in 5 patients with severe aortic stenosis and multiple organ failure undergoing balloon aortic valvulo plasty as a bridge to conventional aortic valve replacement. Balloon a ortic valvuloplasty successfully stabilized the condition of these pat ients, improved organ function, and decreased their baseline risk prof ile. Elective aortic valve replacement was then performed without comp lications. Short-term palliation with balloon aortic valvuloplasty sho uld be considered as a bridge to aortic valve replacement in selected patients with critical aortic stenosis and multiple organ failure.