[Pulmonary valvuloplasty].

The aim of this study was to present the experience of 2 Institutions (Department of Cardiology in Bergamo and Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Apuano Pediatric Hospital in Massa) in performing the balloon dilatation of the pulmonary valve. From January 1985 to August 1993 the balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty was performed in 220 patients, age ranging from 1 day to 60 years (mean age 5 years), 55 (25%) in the first year of life, 17 (8%) in the first week of life. The systolic gradient across the pulmonary valve fell from 78 +/- 31 mmHg (range 40-160) to 20 +/- 16 mmHg (range 0-70) immediately after the procedure (p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality happened in 3 cases (1.3%); 2 of them were neonates with critical pulmonary stenosis. In 7 cases (3%) the balloon valvuloplasty was repeated afterwards, because of inadequate relief of the gradient after the first dilatation. During the mean follow-up period of 4 years the other 210 patients (95%) did not need any further treatment and remain in stable clinical conditions. The balloon valvuloplasty gives excellent early and intermediate term results and should be considered the first choice procedure in the treatment of pulmonary stenosis at all ages.