Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect and include aortic valve stenosis. Aortic valve stenosis ranges from mild to severe, known as critical aortic stenosis. Critical stenosis is rare but carries a high rate of postnatal morbidity and mortality.
Critical aortic stenosis in early fetal life causes left ventricular dysfunction; the increased pressure in the heart initially produces left ventricular dilatation and then myocardial damage. Myocardial damage can lead to hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), which can be associated with underdevelopment of the mitral valve and the aortic arch. The high pressure in the left side of the heart can increase further if the foramen ovale closes before birth, causing fibrosis of the myocardium and pulmonary venous hypertension with arterialisation of the pulmonary veins. This is known as aortic stenosis with restrictive interatrial communication and it has a very poor prognosis.
Many fetuses with critical aortic stenosis will survive until birth. However, about 10% will die before birth either from hydrops associated with restrictive interatrial communication or from a chromosomal abnormality.
At birth, some babies with critical aortic stenosis will not be able to have biventricular heart repair and about 50% of babies will die during the first year of life, despite surgical treatment. This prognosis can lead parents to ask for a termination of pregnancy.
For babies born with an adequate biventricular heart and aortic valve disease, postnatal balloon valvuloplasty is the initial preferred option to encourage remodelling and growth of the left ventricle. Further balloon valvuloplasty is often needed, with later valve replacement.
Staged reconstruction to create a single ventricle circulation can improve survival for babies with HLHS. This takes multiple operations over several years and involves complex high-risk open-heart surgery.
Fetal aortic balloon valvuloplasty may be considered when there is a high risk of fetal deterioration before delivery and an increased likelihood of postnatal mortality and morbidity. Improvements in imaging have helped identify fetuses for whom this procedure is suitable.
The aim of fetal aortic balloon valvuloplasty is to prevent progressive damage to the ventricle. This may allow postnatal surgical intervention to have more chance of success.
Fetal aortic balloon valvuloplasty is done at 21 to 32 weeks' gestation. Under maternal local anaesthesia (with or without sedation), a needle is inserted through the mother's abdominal wall into the uterine cavity with ultrasound guidance. Analgesia is injected into the fetus before advancing the needle through the fetal chest wall into the left ventricle. A guidewire is inserted through the needle and across the aortic valve. A balloon catheter is then inserted and inflated to dilate the stenotic valve. The catheter and needle are then withdrawn.
Fetal positioning is critical for the success of the procedure.