Percutaneous transluminal valvuloplasty (PTV) was performed in 24 patients (aged 67–86 years, mean: 76±5.7 years) with calcific aortic stenosis and high operative risk. The gradient between maximal left ventricular and aortic pressures (peak-to-peak gradient, PPPG) could be reduced by 52% from 73±21 to 34±12 mmHg (p<0.001). peak="" pressure="" gradient="" (ppg),="" as="" assessed="" by="" continuous="" wave="" doppler,="" could="" be="" reduced="" from="" 80±28="" to="" 58±21="" mmhg=""><0.001). aortic="" valve="" area="" (ava)="" as="" determined="" by="" doppler="" and="" two="" dimensional="" echocardiography="" increased="" significantly="" from="" 0.39±0.14="" to="" 0.61±0.3="">² (p<0.05). clinical="" symptoms="" were="" found="" to="" be="" improved="" in="" 5="" of="" 8="" patients="" with="" impaired="" ejection="" fraction="" and="" in="" 11="" of="" 16="" patients="" with="" normal="" ejection="" fraction="" during="" the="" first="" week="" after="" ptv.="" complications="" due="" to="" the="" procedure="" were="" surgical="" revision="" of="" femoral="" artery="" puncture="" site="" in="" one="" patient="" and="" hemodynamic="" relevant="" pericardial="" effusion="" in="" another="" patient.="" transmitral="" early="" (e)="" and="" late="" (l)="" diastolic="" filling="" integrals="" were="" measured="" by="" pulsed="" doppler:="" the="" ratio="" e/l="" decreased="" significantly="" after="" ptv="" from="" 0.9±0.5="" to="" 0.63±0.31=""><0.03) indicating="" further="" reduction="" of="" left="" ventricular="" early="" diastolic="" filling.="" ejection="" fraction,="" stroke="" volume="" and="" cardiac="" output="" did="" not="" significantly="" change="" immediately="" after="">