Role of Transluminal Balloon Valvuloplasty in Staged Surgical Treatment of Left Ventricular Dysfunction After Prior Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Replacement

Introduction : The main disadvantage of bioprosthetic valves is the susceptibility of their leaflets to structural changes, leading to bioprosthetic valve dysfunction requiring a repeated surgical intervention. This group of patients is characterized by high comorbidity, which increases the risk of hospital mortality during repeated interventions. At the same time, low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is the main independent predictor of adverse outcomes. Transcatheter valve-in-valve implantation can be an alternative to an open intervention in patients with high surgical risk. However, this technique is often associated with prosthesis-patient mismatch due to a smaller effective orifice area of a bioprosthetic valve, as well as with the high incidence of intraventricular conduction disorders and/or the need for a pacemaker, preventing the LVEF recovery even in the late period after the procedure. Objective : To demonstrate the role of transluminal balloon valvuloplasty in staged surgical treatment of bioprosthetic aortic valve dysfunction. Case report: We present our experience of successful staged surgical treatment of biodegenerative dysfunction of a biological prosthetic aortic valve using balloon valvuloplasty followed by “open” repeated valve replacement in a patient at very high cardiovascular risk. Conclusions : This staged approach may be justified in patients with extremely low LVEF to minimize risks and improve surgical outcomes.