Current evidence on the safety and efficacy of balloon valvuloplasty for aortic valve stenosis in adults and children appears adequate to support the use of this procedure, provided that the normal arrangements are in place for consent, audit and clinical governance.
In adults, the procedure should only be used to treat patients who are unsuitable for surgery, as the efficacy is usually short-lived.
In infants and children, the procedure should be undertaken in specialist paediatric cardiology units.
The National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research runs the UK Central Cardiac Audit Database (UKCCAD) and clinicians are encouraged to enter all patients into this database.