Aortic valvuloplasties: treatment of calcified aortic stenosis in elderly subjects

Since September 1985, transluminal balloon catheter aortic valvuloplasty has been developed in France (Cribier and al.) and all around the world. Indications are still limited, in almost all catheterization laboratories, to elderly patients, with Monckeberg's disease, and with a very high operative risk. Immediately after aortic valvuloplasty, there is a moderate but a significant increase in valve area, without serious complications. Subjective improvement is often spectacular during few months after the valvuloplasty. In long-term evolution, there is sometimes a symptomatic restenosis which require a new valvuloplasty. So, if percutaneous valvuloplasty is efficacy in aortic stenosis in the elderly, long-term evaluation of this new technique is necessary.