Aim. To investigate early outcomes after balloon aortic valve valvuloplasty (BAV) performed as palliative procedure in patients with decompensated unstable end-stage aortic stenosis (AS).

Patients and Methods. A retrospective observational study was conducted in University Hospital Centre Zagreb. It included all patients who underwent lifesaving BAV, and had no options for surgical or transcatheter aortic valve replacement at the time, between 2015 and 2018. Clinical and echocardiographic characteristics before and after BAV procedure were recorded.

Results. Study included 29 patients, mean age 80.2 (51-92) years, 65.5% women. Mean logistic Euroscore II was 24.1±21.1% and STS score 16.9±14.5%. Comorbidities included: coronary artery disease (48.28%), diabetes mellitus (31.4%), chronic renal insufficiency (58.6%), peripheral artery disease (17.2%) and atrial fibrillation (55.2%). All patients were dependent on parenteral diuretics and 24.14% on parenteral inotropic support. Echocardiographic parameter before and after BAV are presented in table 1. There was significant increase in indexed aortic valve area and decrease in pulmonary artery systolic pressure in overall population. There was no significant change in severity of aortic insufficiency. In-hospital mortality was 20.1% (N=6). Periprocedural complications included: 1 (3.4%) myocardial infarction, 1 (3.4%) major bleeding, 1 (3.4%) acute kidney injury and 2 (6.9%) vascular access complications. All other patients have been successfully weaned of parenteral therapy within 4 days and discharged.

Conclusion. BAV represents palliative treatment option in critically ill hemodynamically unstable patients with end-stage AS, who are not candidates for valve replacement. (1) BAV provides clinical improvement due to increase AVA and decrease in PAPs, with acceptable mortality and complications rate.