ISSN: 2155-9880
Jon C. George and Faisal Shamshad
Percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty has been limited due to poor durability and high rates of recurrence and restenosis. Moreover, interpretation of valve gradients and valve areas post-valvuloplasty has been inconsistent due to variable effects on these parameters. We describe the novel use of intravascular ultrasound for measuring pre- and post-valvuloplasty aortic valve areas as a supplement to area measurements based on pressure gradients alone.