Long‐Term Results of Congenital Aortic Stenosis Treatment in the Era of Percutaneous Balloon Valvuloplasty: Up to 33 Years Follow‐Up

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to evaluate long‐term results of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty (BVPL) used exclusively for initial management of congenital aortic stenosis in children. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 409 consecutive pediatric patients (134 newborns, 275 older patients) who underwent BVPL as initial treatment of aortic stenosis in a single nationwide pediatric center were subjected to a retrospective follow‐up study. The resulting follow‐up time reached a median of 18.5 (interquartile range, 12.2–25.1) years. Successful BVPL was defined by residual Doppler gradient <70/40 (systolic/mean) mm Hg. The primary end point was death; secondary end points included any valve reintervention, balloon revalvuloplasty, any aortic valve surgery, and aortic valve replacement, respectively. BVPL effectively reduced the peak and mean gradient both immediately and at the latest follow‐up (P<0.001). There was significant procedure‐related progression of aortic insufficiency (P<0.001). Higher aortic annulus z score was predictive for severe aortic regurgitation (P<0.05) and lower z score for insufficient gradient reduction (P<0.05). The actuarial probability of survival/survival free from any valve reintervention was 89.9%/59.9%, 85.9%/35.2%, and 82.0%/26.7% at 10, 20, and 30 years after first BVPL, respectively. Left ventricular dysfunction or arterial duct dependency as the indication for BVPL was predictive of both worse survival and survival free from any reintervention (P<0.001). Lower aortic annulus z score and lower balloon‐to‐annulus ratio were predictive of a need for revalvuloplasty (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous BVPL provides good initial palliation. In patients with hypoplastic annuli and left ventricular or mitral valve comorbidity, the results are less favorable.