Anterograde double-balloon valvoplasty for treatment of severe valvar aortic stenosis in a preterm baby weighing 1400 grams

We describe our treatment of a premature baby born weighing 1400 g with sev ere aortic stenosis, with a gradient of 80 mmHg across the valve. Efforts t o advance a 6 mm angioplasty catheter into the stenotic aortic valve via th e left ventricle failed. Anterograde angioplasty, instead, was performed us ing two 4 mm coronary angioplasty catheters. Six months subsequent to the i ntervention, the pressure gradient measured 25 mmHg, and there was no hemod ynamically significant aortic insufficiency.