[Interventional treatment of heart valve diseases]

Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty of stenoses has been introduced into medical practice in the late 70ies. Over the past decade, the method has evolved to a valid alternative to valve surgery in selected cases. Balloon valvuloplasty of isolated mitral stenosis is to date the therapy of choice and yields results comparable to those of surgery. It is even superior in only moderately diseased valves. However, the most frequent valve stenosis, that is aortic stenosis of the elderly, is not suitable for balloon dilatation. Dilatation of congenital aortic stenosis can be attempted if the valve is bicuspid or tricuspid. The recurrence rates for valvular stenoses after valvuloplasty are similar to those after surgical commissurotomy.