Transcatheter Aortic Valve Closure to Treat Severe Aortic Regurgitation in a Patient Failing Stage I Palliation for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

We present a patient with borderline left ventricle, in whom significant aortic regurgitation after failed attempt of biventricular repair with balloon valvuloplasty and consecutive Norwood stage 1 procedure substantially contributed to persisting hemodynamic instability. Transcatheter closure of the aortic valve using an Amplatzer(R) septal occluder was performed and led to clinical stabilization. At medium-term follow-up, there was neither residual aortic regurgitation nor obstruction of the coronary artery origins. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.