Nombela–Franco L et al. – Balloon post–dilation (BPD) was needed in about one–fourth of the patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with a balloon–expandable valve and was successful in about one–half of them. A higher degree of valve calcification and transfemoral approach predicted the need for BPD. BPD was not associated with any deleterious effect on valve function at mid–term follow–up, but a higher rate of cerebrovascular events was observed in patients who had BPD. [more...]