Percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty during pregnancy: Use of the Inoue balloon and the physiologic antegrade approach

We describe the use of the Inoue balloon to dilate the aortic valve by the physiologic antegrade route during pregnancy. A 27-year-old pregnant woman with severe aortic stenosis presented with progressive dyspnea and presynco pe at 26 weeks of pregnancy, She subsequently underwent percutaneous valvul oplasty by the antegrade route utilizing the transseptal puncture, We concl ude that percutaneous antegrade balloon valvuloplasty by the Inoue balloon (venous approach) is a safe and effective procedure. It markedly reduces fl uoroscopy and is a palliative procedure that allows pregnancy to continue. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 45:422-425, 1998. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.