Objective: To evaluate long term results and independent predictors of outcome of aortic valvoplasty. Design: Retrospective follow up study. Independent predictors of outcome identified by multiple logistic regression. Setting: Tertiary referral centre. Patients: 269 consecutive patients treated at the median age of 8 months (0-23 years): 80 (30%) under 4 weeks, 59 (22%) between 4 weeks and 1 year, and 130 (48%) over 1 year. The follow up period was up to 14.8 years (median 5.3, in survivors 6.4 years). Interventions: Percutaneous balloon valvoplasty with mean (SD) balloon to annulus ratio 0.97 (0.08). Main outcome measures: Restenosis > 70 mm Hg, grade 3 aortic insufficiency, cusps disruption, surgery, death, and valvoplasty failure (significant restenosis or insufficiency or surgery or death). Results: The mortality rate was 10.4% (n = 28), the restenosis rate was 16.7% (n = 45), significant insufficiency developed in 22.3% (n = 60), surgery was needed in 20.1% (n = 54), and ''valvoplasty failure'' occurred in 41.6% (n = 112) patients. Mean (SEM) survival probability 14.4 years after the procedure was 0.89 (0.02) and mean (SEM) probability of surgery-free survival was 0.50 (0.08). The independent predictors were as follows. For restenosis: small aortic annulus; for cusp disruption: large aortic annulus; for insufficiency: bicuspid aortic valve; for need for surgery: bicuspid aortic valve; for death: small aortic annulus, low left ventricular shortening fraction, and low sequential number of the valvoplasty; and for valvoplasty failure: small aortic annulus, bicuspid aortic valve, and high grade of mitral insufficiency. Conclusion: Independent predictors of unfavourable outcome are small aortic annulus, bicuspid aortic valve, poor function of left ventricle or mitral valve, and limited operator experience. P ercutaneous balloon valvoplasty was first described in 1983.1 The effectiveness of the method in gradient reduction and the low incidence of restenosis shortly after the procedure were documented in children with congenital aortic stenosis. 2In 1986, the first balloon valvoplasty was performed in a newborn with critical aortic stenosis.3 Good short term results were obtained in a large cohort of children in a multicentre study. 4 Mid-term results, however, showed a substantial incidence of restenosis, severe aortic insufficiency, and reinterventions.5 6 Long term results have so far been published only for children treated after 1 year of age with a 20% restenosis rate and a 21% incidence of significant aortic insufficiency 2-12 years after the procedure.

Truncus arteriosus remains a challenging heart disease. With growing experience, the early mortality decreased to 4%, but numerous re-interventions for conduit obstruction, pulmonary branch stenosis and truncal valve insufficiency are required. Surgery before 1997 and prolonged cross-clamping were risk factors of death. Pulmonary homografts had the best re-intervention-free survival. Statistically, however, the difference between conduits was not significant. Dysplastic valve and truncal valve insufficiency represent risk factors presenting the need for truncal valve replacement.

Angioplasty is safe and effective regardless of the type of surgery used and the recoarctation anatomy. Older age at the angioplasty is associated with a higher incidence of reinterventions.

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