This review outlines the anatomic and pathologic basis (calcification, tears, thrombosis) for applying catheter balloon valvuloplasty to degenerated porcine bioprosthetic valves.
Supports anatomic rationale for balloon valvuloplasty in degenerated bioprostheses; leaves open prospective trials to establish safety and efficacy.
During the last several years, dilating balloons have been applied in the treatment of stenotic cardiac valves. This interest has recently been extended to stenotic porcine bioprosthetic valves. Part I of this review discusses the pathologic processes responsible for degeneration of porcine prostheses: intrinsic calcification (mineralization), cuspal tears and perforations, and cuspal thrombosis (non-infective). These changes form the basis of applied balloon valvuloplasty techniques.
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Waller et al. (1991) studied this question.
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