To assess short- and medium-term outcomes of VenusP-valve implantation in the pulmonary position in the paediatric population.

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation is now an established alternative to surgical pulmonary valve replacement, especially in those with conduits in the right ventricular outflow tract. The VenusP-valve™ (Venus Medtech, Shanghai, China) has demonstrated early efficacy in the adult population with larger conduit-free right ventricular outflow tracts. However, its use in children has not been well described.

Retrospective review of patients under 18 years of age undergoing VenusP-valve implantation at a single institution between June 2015 and February 2023.

Fifteen patients under the age of 18 years underwent VenusP-valve™ implantation. All had severe pulmonary regurgitation and fulfilled accepted criteria for pulmonary valve implantation. Mean age at valve implantation was 14.1 (range 9.8–17.9) years, and mean weight was 54.9 (34.0–98.5) kg. The valve was deployed successfully in all the patients. The valve diameter and length ranged between 28–36 mm and 25–35 mm, respectively. Mean follow-up was 3.4 (0.5–8.1) years. At follow-up, twelve patients have undergone magnetic resonance imaging MRI as part of the regular surveillance. Indexed right ventricular end-diastolic volume improved from 157.8 (140.0–197.0) ml/m2 to 117.6 (91.0–152.0) ml/m2 (p = 0.004). Pulmonary regurgitation fraction had reduced from a mean of 44.3 (31.0–60.0) % to 3.6 (0.0–15.0) % (p = 0.003).

This study demonstrates the safety and feasibility of the VenusP-valve implantation in children. Medium-term follow-up suggests that valve implantation is associated with a reduction in the degree of pulmonary regurgitation and right ventricular end-diastolic volume.

Balloon valvuloplasty and surgical aortic valvotomy have been the treatment mainstays for congenital aortic stenosis in children. Choice of intervention often differs depending upon centre bias with limited relevant, comparative literature.

This study aims to provide an unbiased, contemporary matched comparison of these balloon and surgical approaches.

Retrospective analysis of patients with congenital aortic valve stenosis who underwent balloon valvuloplasty (Queensland Children’s Hospital, Brisbane) or surgical valvotomy (Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne) between 2005 and 2016. Patients were excluded if pre-intervention assessment indicated ineligibility to either group. Propensity score matching was performed based on age, weight, and valve morphology.

Sixty-five balloon patients and seventy-seven surgical patients were included. Overall, the groups were well matched with 18 neonates/25 infants in the balloon group and 17 neonates/28 infants in the surgical group. Median age at balloon was 92 days (range 2 days – 18.8 years) compared to 167 days (range 0 days – 18.1 years) for surgery (rank-sum p = 0.08). Mean follow-up was 5.3 years. There was one late balloon death and two early surgical deaths due to left ventricular failure. There was no significant difference in freedom from reintervention at latest follow-up (69% in the balloon group and 70% in the surgical group, p = 1.0).

Contemporary analysis of balloon aortic valvuloplasty and surgical aortic valvotomy shows no difference in overall reintervention rates in the medium term. Balloon valvuloplasty performs well across all age groups, achieving delay or avoidance of surgical intervention.