Severe hypertensive encephalopathy following percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty for aortic stenosis

Abstract

Severe calcific aortic stenosis is an increasingly common condition, particularly in elderly patients [1]. Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) is a percutaneous intervention developed as a nonsurgical alternative to aortic valve replacement (AVR) in the 1980s that fell out of favour due to high rates of restenosis and need for reintervention [2]. In the era of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), the role of BAV has undergone reappraisal and it is increasingly used as a bridge to valve replacement and for palliation of severe aortic stenosis in very elderly high-risk patients [3–5].