Objectives: this study aim to assess the effectiveness of the Transcatheter balloon valvoplasty (BVP) of severe Pulmonary stenosis (PS) and identify possible complications and predictors for the outcome.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at the Iraqi Center of Cardiac Diseases for a 2-year duration in the period from 2021 to the end of 2023; the patients with confirmed severe PS of both genders within the age equal to or less than 18 years were included. For every patient included in the present study, the following data were collected: Demographic data, Echocardiographic criteria Hemodynamic parameters pre- and post-Cath, Catheterization data including the site of vascular access, need for general anesthesia and tracheal intubation, number and size of balloons used, any complications recorded at therapeutic session obtained from Cath lab archive.
Results: After BVP, the pressure gradient across the valve reduced from 105±25 to 32 ± 11(mmHg), (P<0.001); the systemic right ventricular pressure dropped from 120 ± 25 (mmHg) before to 54 ± 14 (mmHg) after (P<0.001). A significant increase in the systemic pulmonary pressure from 18 ± 4 (mmHg) before to 22 ± 3(mmHg) (P<0.001). Tricuspid valve regurgitation (TVR) reduced significantly (P=0.002). Pulmonary incompetence (PI) changed from mild to moderate and severe in 12 cases (P=0.001). Nine cases (20%) developed complications; 6 (13.3%) supraventricular tachycardia and 3 (6.7%) Cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The strongest association to complication occurrence was pulmonary valve annulus size with r= 0.417 and TVR and PI severity with P=0.001, 0.017, respectively.
Conclusion: Transcatheter BVP is an effective procedure for severe PS cases but carry a risk of cardiac complications. The complication rate was linked to the patients’ demographical characteristics and PV annulus size and degree of TVR and PI severity.