Comparison of immediate and long-term results between the single balloon and inoue balloon techniques for percutaneous pulmonary valvuloplasty.

Background: This study was undertaken to compare the immediate and long-term follow-up results of balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (BPV) between the single balloon and Inoue balloon for isolated pulmonary valve stenosis (PS).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of outcomes following BPV in 38 children using the single balloon and 42 adults using the Inoue balloon at a single institution was performed.

Results: The majority of children (76.3%) were asymptomatic while 26 adults (61.9%) presented with symptoms. The ratio of balloon size to pulmonary valve annulus was 1.23 ± 0.12 in the children group and 1.22 ± 0.10 in the adult group (P=0.641). The children group had a right ventricle-pulmonary artery systolic gradient of 52.79 ± 35.08 mmHg that decreased to 22.55 ± 12.92 mmHg following BPV (P<0.001). The adult group had a gradient of 94.79 ± 42.19 mmHg that decreased to 34.02 ± 15.00 mmHg following BPV (P<0.001). Mild pulmonary regurgitation occurred in eight children (21.1%) and 10 adults (23.8%) (P=0.768). During a median follow-up of 15 years, gradients were not significantly different from that obtained at one-month follow-up in children (P=0.280) and adults (P=0.373).

Conclusions: Adults can be treated with BPV using the Inoue balloon with encouraging immediate and long-term follow-up results that are similar to those in children using the single balloon.