Mechanism of aortic balloon valvuloplasty: fracture of valvular calcific deposits
Isner, J.M.; Samuels, D.A.; Slovenkai, G.A.; Halaburka, K.R.; Hougen, T.J.; Desnoyers, M.R.; Fields, C.D.; Salem, D.N.
Annals of Internal Medicine 108(3): 377-380
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-4819 PMID: 3341674 Document Number: 316995
Balloon valvuloplasty has been shown to acutely reduce the hemodynamic and symptomatic severity of calcific aortic stenosis. The mechanism by which this improvement is accomplished is not known. At necropsy, three patients who died after hemodynamically successful aortic balloon valvuloplasty were found to have aortic valve calcific deposits fractured at one or more sites. These findings suggest that fracture of leaflet calcium represents the basis for successful aortic balloon valvuloplasty.