Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty in patients with mitral restenosis after previous surgical commissurotomy: A matched comparative study

Background Although the efficacy of percutaneous balloon mitralvalvuloplasty in patients with unoperated mitral stenosis hasbeen well documented, there exists less clear-cut data on itseffectiveness in patients with mitral restenosis after previoussurgical commissurotomy. Accordingly, the purpose of this studywas to evaluate our immediate and midterm results of balloonmitral valvuloplasty in this subset of patients with previousmitral surgery. Methods Between October 1991 and August 1995, 29 consecutivepatients with mitral restenosis after prior surgical commissurotomy(group 1) underwent Inoue balloon mitral valvuloplasty. Theywere matched on a patient-to-patient basis with regards to baselinemitral echocardiographic score, mitral valve area, seventy ofangiographic mitral regurgitation and follow-up duration with29 other patients with unoperated mitral stenosis (group 2)who underwent balloon mitral valvuloplasty during the same studyperiod. Results Balloon mitral valvuloplasty yielded identical improvementsin transmitral gradient and mitral valve area (from 0.8 to 1.6cm² determined echocardiographically, and similar changes inthe severity of mitral regurgitation in both groups of patients.All procedures were successfully completed without major cardiaccomplications. Follow-up echocardiographic assessment in 73%of patients revealed equal mitral valve area (1.6 cm²) and arestenosis rate of 17%, with no difference in the restenosisrate between the two groups. Conclusion Balloon mitral valvuloplasty in selected patientswith mitral restenosis after past surgical commissurotomy canbe performed safely and with similar immediate and midterm efficacyas in patients with de novo mitral stenosis.     

Percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty.

Almost all mitral stenosis (MS) is rheumatic in etiology. The patient with MS who is symptomatic despite medical therapy should undergo percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty or mitral valvular surgery (commissurotomy or replacement). The choice of procedure is determined by patient preference and the echocardiographic morphologic features of the valvular and subvalvular apparati. With balloon valvuloplasty, the rate of success is > 90%. At institutions where operators are experienced with balloon valvuloplasty and open surgical commissurotomy, their acute and long-term results are comparable. Balloon valvuloplasty occasionally is associated with complications, including death in 0 to 1%, moderate or severe valvular regurgitation in 3 to 5%, and systemic embolization in 1 to 3%.     

“Balloon impasse”: A marker for severe mitral subvalvular disease and a predictor of mitral regurgitation in inoue-balloon percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy

In certain instances of percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy, the Inoue catheter balloon, although deflated and properly aligned, becomes held up or checked at the mitral valve. This “balloon impasse,” observed in 13 of 760 patients undergoing the commissurotomy, reflects severe obstructive subvalvular disease even though echocardiographic evidence suggests otherwise. Our experience shows that the sign portends severe mitral regurgitation if the usual balloon sizing method is used. Such a situation occurred with four of the first six patients. In the next seven patients, the use of smaller balloon catheters (PTMC-18 or PTMC-20) for the initial set of stepwise dilatations averted creation of severe mitral regurgitation. When the “balloon impasse” sign is encountered during the commissurotomy procedure, the catheter selection and balloon sizing method should be judiciously altered. © 1995 Wiley-Liss. Inc.     

Hemodynamic effects and long-term outcome of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty in patients with mitral stenosis and atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND: The presence of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been identified as a predictor of a suboptimal result in some patients undergoing percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty in the treatment of symptomatic rheumatic mitral stenosis. HYPOTHESIS: Atrial fibrillation adversely affects the short- and long-term outcome of patients with mitral stenosis undergoing percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 104 consecutive patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis undergoing percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty was performed. A successful procedure was defined as a final mitral valve area > or = 1.5 cm2 and the absence of a complication. Endpoints included freedom from mitral valve replacement, death, and repeat balloon valvuloplasty at 5 years. RESULTS: A successful procedure was obtained in 89% of patients with sinus rhythm and in 78% of patients with AF (p = NS). Patients in sinus rhythm had a greater cardiac output resulting in a larger final valve area than patients in AF (1.8 vs. 1.6 cm2, p < 0.05). Freedom from valve replacement, death, and repeat balloon valvuloplasty at 5 years was 75% for patients in AF and 76% for patients in sinus rhythm (p = NS). Lower postprocedure mitral regurgitation grade and absence of prior commissurotomy were the only independent predictors of event-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with mitral stenosis and AF have lower cardiac outputs and gradients than patients with sinus rhythm, despite similar valve areas. The long-term outcome of balloon valvuloplasty is independent of the initial cardiac rhythm.     

Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy using the inoue balloon catheter

Since its inception in 1982, percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) with the Inoue balloon catheter has gained increasingly wide use internationally. The procedure is technically successful in over 90% of patients, and the long-term durability of commissurotomy is excellent in those with pliable mitral valve leaflets and minimally deformed submitral apparatus. PTMC offers an alternative to patients previously not considered candidates for surgery, where no alternative had existed in the past. After transseptal puncture, PTMC using the Inoue balloon can be accomplished easily in the majority of patients. In comparison to double balloon mitral valvotomy, the postdilatation valve area is similar, the incidence of mitral regurgitation is not different, and the fluoroscopic and procedure time are markedly shorter. While patients with little valve deformity are excellent candidates for this procedure, and those not considered candidates for surgical therapy are also easily defined, selection of patients for balloon dilatation among those with significant valve deformity who are otherwise candidates for valve replacement therapy remains a challenging problem. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Mitral valve disruption following percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty

Two cases of massive mitral regurgitation due to mitral valve disruption following percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty are reported. This severe complication occurred in two elderly women with recurrent mitral stenosis after previous surgical commissurotomy. Due to their unstable hemodynamic and clinical condition, both patients underwent emergency valve replacement. At surgery, the commissures appeared fused and heavily calcified; the chordae tendineae thickened, shortened, and fused; and the leaflets presented a large tear with sheared edges. Because the technical aspects of both procedures were unremarkable, the anatomic features of the mitral valve seemed to affect the occurrence of severe mitral regurgitation. Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty should be therefore applied carefully to patients with prior surgical valvotomy, in whom the structural alterations of the mitral apparatus may predispose to severe valvular damage.     

Mitral regurgitation after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty in adults: evaluation by pulsed Doppler echocardiography

Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty is a new technique used in the treatment of adult patients with mitral stenosis. To evaluate the occurrence and severity of mitral regurgitation after balloon valvuloplasty, 24 patients (20 women and 4 men, mean age 57 years) were studied using two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography before and less than 24 h after this procedure. Mitral valve area increased after valvuloplasty in all patients, from 0.89 +/- 0.07 to 1.61 +/- 0.09 cm2 (p less than 0.001). Before valvuloplasty, 10 patients had no mitral regurgitation, 4 had 1+, 4 had 2+ and 6 had 3+ mitral regurgitation. After valvuloplasty, new mitral regurgitation occurred in six patients. Regurgitation grade did not change in 13 patients (54%), increased by one grade in 8 patients (33%) and by two grades in 3 patients (13%). Left atrial volume decreased in all except one patient from 100 +/- 12 to 83 +/- 12 cm3 (p less than 0.001). Neither age, sex, cardiac rhythm, initial mitral valve area, increase in mitral valve area, morphologic characteristics of the valvular and subvalvular apparatus, previous mitral commissurotomy nor effective balloon dilating area discriminated between those patients with and without an increase in mitral regurgitation after valvuloplasty. Thus, mitral balloon valvuloplasty is frequently associated with an increase in mitral regurgitation. However, in this series, no patient developed severe mitral regurgitation, and left atrial volume decreased in nearly all patients. An increase in mitral regurgitation could not be predicted from any features of the valve or subvalvular apparatus, clinical characteristics of the patients or technical aspects of the procedure.     

Subacute papillary muscle rupture following percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty

INTRODUCTION: Mitral valve stenosis is becoming increasingly rare in industrialized countries thanks to the almost complete extinction of rheumatic valve disease. Nevertheless, every cardiologist will encounter a few cases, notably in elderly with degenerated calcified mitral valves or in younger immigrants coming from parts of the world with endemic rheumatic valve disease. Patients usually present with progressive dyspnoea due to increased left atrial and pulmonary artery pressures and a decline in cardiac output secondary to preload reduction. Introduced by Inoue in 1984, percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty constitutes an elegant treatment modality in patients with appropriate valvular anatomy, with excellent immediate results and long-term outcome.The original Inoue technique, based on the surgically closed commissurotomy, employs the eponymous balloon to crack the mitral commissures to separate the mitral leaflets along their natural plane thereby enlarging the mitral valve area. Similar but slightly different techniques have emerged throughout the years and have extensively been used in the clinic. One of them is the so-called double balloon valvuloplasty, first described in Saoudi Arabia by Al-Zaibag, during which two balloons are positioned side-by-side across the stenotic valve and inflated simultaneously. Mitral regurgitation is relatively common after balloon dilatation, but is mostly mild and caused by excessive commissural tearing or slight prolapse of the anterior leaflet. We present a rare case of severe mitral regurgitation following double balloon mitral valvuloplasty due to papillary muscle rupture.     

Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty

Thirty six adults with severe mitral stenosis underwent attempted percutaneous mitral commissurotomy. The valvuloplasty could not be performed in 6 cases; post-transseptal haemopericardium (1 case), inability to cross the mitral valve or the septum (5 cases). Therefore percutaneous commissurotomy was performed in 30 cases; the average age was 43 +/- 17 years (range 20-79 years). Eight patients had undergone previous valve surgery; 24 patients were very symptomatic (NYHA Classes III or IV). The valvuloplasty was performed with a single balloon in 22 cases and by simultaneous inflation of two balloons in 8 cases. Moderate mitral regurgitation present before the procedure was significantly aggravated in 2 cases leading to secondary surgery. In the other patients percutaneous commissurotomy led to a clear-cut haemodynamic improvement; the transvalvular pressure gradient fell from 15 +/- 4 to 6 +/- 2 mm Hg, p less than 0.01 and mitral valve surface area increased from 1.1 +/- 0.2 to 2.2 +/- 0.4 cm2, p less than .001. The best results were obtained with the double balloon technique in patients with little valve destruction. Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty is therefore a tempting alternative to closed heart mitral commissurotomy in pure mitral stenosis with pliable valves. Larger series with a longer follow-up are needed to assess the morbidity and long-term results of this technique.     

Prosthetic mitral valvuloplasty.

A 78-year-old man underwent mitral valve replacement with a no. 33 Hancock porcine bioprosthesis for severe mitral regurgitation. Postoperatively, a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) revealed a mean mitral valve gradient (MVG) of 4 mm Hg, a calculated mitral valve area (MVA) of 2.8 cm(2), and no mitral regurgitation. Eighteen months later, he presented to the emergency room with progressive dyspnea. Repeat TTE demonstrated severe mitral stenosis (MVG, 16 mm Hg; MVA, 0.9 cm(2)). The patient was deemed high risk for a repeat valve replacement, and percutaneous valvuloplasty was performed with an Inoue balloon catheter inflated to 26 mm. The patient's symptoms dramatically improved, as did his hemodynamics (MVG, 5 mm Hg; MVA, 1.6 cm(2)). There was no evidence of mitral regurgitation and the successful results were maintained after 10 months of follow-up. Since its introduction in 1987, there have been only nine cases reporting successful balloon valvulotomy in prosthetic mitral valves. While percutaneous valvulotomy is the intervention of choice for native mitral stenosis, it is rarely performed in prosthetic valves, with surgical valve replacement being the treatment of choice. Our case was successful and may suggest a niche to reconsider using the procedure in certain clinical circumstances.     

Intraoperative contrast echocardiography to evaluate mitral valve operations

Intraoperative two-dimensional contrast echocardiography was performed on 29 patients undergoing open heart surgery to determine the presence of mitral regurgitation before and immediately after the operative procedure: 14 patients had predominant mitral stenosis, 9 had severe mitral regurgitation and 6 had no mitral valve disease (control subjects). Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed by applying a 5 MHz transducer directly on the heart during injection of saline solution through an apical ventricular sump or transseptal needle, generating contrast microbubbles, with imaging in two planes. Baseline studies were performed after thoracotomy and pericardiotomy before cardiopulmonary bypass, and a second study was done after the operative procedure, with the patient off cardiopulmonary bypass with hemodynamic stabilization before chest closure. No control subject had contrast evidence of mitral regurgitation before or after cardiopulmonary bypass. Two of three patients with mitral valvuloplasty and two of five with commissurotomy required a second operative procedure before chest closure because of persistent mitral regurgitation detected by intraoperative two-dimensional contrast echocardiography. Thirteen of the 15 patients with valve replacement had no mitral regurgitation after cardiopulmonary bypass. Intraoperative two-dimensional echocardiographic findings correlated with data from postoperative clinical examinations and two-dimensional echocardiography-Doppler studies. It is concluded that two-dimensional echocardiography with contrast is an important intraoperative tool for assessing the presence and relative severity of mitral regurgitation after mitral commissurotomy, valvuloplasty or valve replacement. This technique may allow surgeons to be more aggressive in combining reparative operative procedures (that is, commissurotomy and valvuloplasty) in an attempt to retain native valves.     

Role of transesophageal echocardiography in percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty

Echocardiography is useful in the selection of patients for percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty, which is an effective treatment in suitable patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Transesophageal echocardiography appears superior to precordial echocardiography in this role because transesophageal echocardiography is not only reliable in the assessment of mitral valvular morphology but also more sensitive in the detection of left atrial thrombi and mitral regurgitation. Transesophageal echocardiography can be used in guiding the proper positioning of the catheters during the dilatation procedure. Complications of balloon mitral valvuloplasty such as torn mitral leaflets or atrial septal defects can also be diagnosed reliably by transesophageal echocardiography. Thus, transesophageal echocardiography should be an integral part of balloon mitral valvuloplasty.     

Percutaneous balloon valvotomy for patients with severe mitral stenosis

Thirty-five patients with severe mitral stenosis underwent percutaneous mitral valvotomy (PMV). There were 29 female and six male patients (mean age 49 +/- 3 years, range 13 to 87). After transseptal left heart catheterization, PMV was performed with either a single- (20 patients) or double- (14 patients) balloon dilating catheter. Hemodynamic and left ventriculographic findings were evaluated before and after PMV. There was one death. Mitral regurgitation developed or increased in severity in 15 patients (43%). One patient developed complete heart block requiring a permanent pacemaker. PMV resulted in a significant decrease in mitral gradient from 18 +/- 1 to 7 +/- 1 mm Hg (p less than .0001) and a significant increase in both cardiac output from 3.9 +/- 0.2 to 4.6 +/- 0.2 liters/min (p less than .001) and in mitral valve area from 0.8 +/- 0.1 to 1.7 +/- 0.2 cm2 (p less than .0001) Effective balloon dilating diameter per square meter of body surface area correlated significantly with the decrease in mitral gradient but did not correlate with the degree of mitral regurgitation. There was no correlation of age, prior mitral commissurotomy or mitral calcification with hemodynamic results. PMV is an effective nonsurgical procedure for patients with mitral stenosis, including those with pliable valves, those with previous commissurotomy, and even those with mitral calcification.     

Mitral balloon valvuloplasty for mitral restenosis after surgical commissurotomy

Mitral balloon valvuloplasty was performed in 14 patients with recurrent mitral stenosis 16.9 +/- 1.8 years (range 6 to 30) after surgical commissurotomy. There were 13 women and 1 man with a mean age of 55 +/- 4 years (range 23 to 73). Mitral balloon valvuloplasty resulted in an increase in mitral valve area from 0.8 +/- 0.1 to 1.7 +/- 0.2 cm2 (p = 0.001), a decrease in mean mitral diastolic pressure gradient from 15 +/- 2 to 7 +/- 1 mm Hg (p = 0.001) and an increase in cardiac output from 3.4 +/- 0.3 to 3.9 +/- 0.3 liters/min (p = 0.03). No deaths, strokes, vascular complications or conduction abnormalities were observed. Mitral regurgitation developed or increased in severity in seven patients (50%). There was no evidence of significant left to right shunt through the atrial septal puncture site after mitral balloon valvuloplasty. A good result (defined as a mitral valve area greater than 1.0 cm2, an increase in mitral valve area greater than 25% and a mean gradient less than 10 mm Hg) was achieved in 9 (64%) of the 14 patients. A subgroup of four patients who had a superior result (increase in mitral valve area of 1.7 +/- 0.2 versus 0.5 +/- 0.1 cm2 in the other 10 patients, p = 0.004) was identified. These patients had less echocardiographic evidence of rheumatic mitral valve damage and were the only patients who had sinus rhythm. They were also younger, less debilitated and had a lower grade of fluoroscopic valve calcification compared with the other patients. Thus, mitral balloon valvuloplasty is a safe and effective procedure for patients with recurrent mitral stenosis after surgical commissurotomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Minimally invasive closed mitral commissurotomy

Today, technical advances have decreased the risk of cardiopulmonary bypass to the point that closed mitral commissurotomy is performed infrequently in most cardiac centers and is considered hazardous. We describe a modified technique for closed mitral commissurotomy, improved in terms of safety and efficacy, and adapted for situations in which resources are limited. This operation was performed in 12 symptomatic patients with severe mitral stenosis whose valves were judged suitable for closed mitral commissurotomy or balloon valvuloplasty. After modified closed commissurotomy, the mitral valve areas of these patients were increased substantially, from 1.8 to 3.1 cm2. There was no new incidence of mitral regurgitation. We conclude that closed mitral commissurotomy is a safe alternative to open mitral commissurotomy, provided that patient selection criteria are strictly followed.     

Percutaneous transluminal valvuloplasty of the mitral valve

Percutaneous transluminal balloon valvuloplasty for mitral stenosis represents an alternative method of treatment to standard surgical procedures of open or closed commissurotomy as well as valve replacement. In this overview, our results will be reported with respect to derivation of a summary of indications and contraindications for the procedure. Valvuloplasty for mitral stenosis was carried out in 62 patients, mean age 43 +/- 17 years, 48 women and 14 men. In 14 of the patients surgical procedures had been performed previously including an open or closed commissurotomy or isolated aortic valve replacement. Nine patients were in NYHA class II, 50 in class III and three in class IV. Markedly impaired motion of the valve and calcification was present in 15 patients. In 47 patients, the valve motion was relatively good and associated with mild changes in the subvalvular apparatus in 29 and marked changes in 18. In 54 patients the valvuloplasty was carried out with a combination of two balloon catheters, one 3 X 10 mm trefoil catheter and a single-balloon catheter of 15 mm (n = 16) or 19 mm (n = 38) diameter. Both catheters were inserted via the right femoral vein. The procedure required an average of one and one-half hours. Before and after valvuloplasty, complete right heart catheterization with oxymetric determinations were carried out to detect possible shunts at the atrial level and left ventriculography for detection of mitral regurgitation was performed in addition to echocardiography and Doppler examinations with continuous, pulsed-wave and color Doppler studies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

String-plucking as a mechanism of chordal rupture during balloon mitral valvuloplasty using Inoue balloon catheter

Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy using the Inoue technique was performed in a 59-year-old female with mitral stenosis and a severely calcified mitral leaflets. Although not entrapped in the subvalvular apparatus, the balloon catheter was deviated away from the mitral orifice-apex axis of the left ventricle during the inflation of the proximal balloon, which plucked and severed the chordae tendineae of the posterior mitral leaflet and resulted in severe mitral regurgitation. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 47:213–217, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A simple balloon-sizing method in Inoue-balloon percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy

This study was carried out to examine whether the previously determined balloon sizing method based on patient height was valid for percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy using the current second-generation Inoue balloon catheter. The study consisted of 70 patients with pliable noncalcified mitral valves (group 1) and 85 patients with calcified mitral valves and/or severe subvalvular lesions (group 2). The mitral valve area was increased more in group 1 than in group 2 (1.0 ± 0.3 to 1.9 ± 0.5 cm² versus 1.0 ± 0.3 to 1.6 ± 0.5 cm², P = 0.002). Using the stepwise dilatation technique, none of the group 1 patients developed severe mitral regurgitation. Severe mitral regurgitation occurred in 4 patients (4.7%) in group 2. In conclusion, a simple balloon sizing method based on body height for selection of an appropriate-sized balloon catheter, as well as an initial inflated balloon diameter for the stepwise dilatation technique is useful for optimal acute outcomes in mitral commissurotomy. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Value of two-dimensional echocardiography in selecting patients and balloon sizes for percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty

The effect of valvular and subvalvular morphologic features and balloon size/mitral anulus size ratio on results of valvuloplasty were prospectively studied in 38 consecutive patients undergoing mitral valvuloplasty. The severity of valvular and subvalvular disease was graded echocardiographically from grade I to IV (mild to severe) for immobility, thickening, calcification of mitral leaflets and subvalvular thickening and fusion, yielding a maximal total score of 16. The diastolic mitral anulus diameter was measured in the apical four chamber view. After valvuloplasty, the mitral valve area increased from 0.9 +/- 0.3 to 2.2 +/- 0.5 cm2 (p less than 0.001) with increasing mitral regurgitation in 12 (32%) of the 38 patients. Multiple stepwise analysis revealed that the ratio of balloon size and annular size and the severity of subvalvular disease are two independent factors that correlated significantly with the mitral valve area after valvuloplasty (multiple r = 0.65, p less than 0.0002). One of 34 patients with mild subvalvular disease of grade III or less had an unsatisfactory increase in mitral valve area to less than or equal to 1.5 cm2, whereas 3 of 4 patients with severe (grade IV) subvalvular disease had a valve area less than or equal to 1.5 cm2 (p less than 0.002) after valvuloplasty. The increase in mitral regurgitation after valvuloplasty correlated significantly with the ratio of balloon to mitral anulus size and the severity of subvalvular disease (multiple r = 0.53, p less than 0.003). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

分级次二尖瓣球囊扩张预防二尖瓣反流的初步研究

目的为探讨经皮穿刺球囊导管二尖瓣扩张术（ＰＢＭＶ）引起二尖瓣反流（ＭＲ）的原因及其预防方法。方法我们采用分级次扩张法和改良Ｉｎｏｎｅ法对人体病变二尖瓣和硅胶二尖瓣模型进行体外球囊导管扩张实验，并对１３２例风湿性心脏病重度二尖瓣狭窄患者，其中分别以分级次扩张法９６例，Ｉｎｏｎｅ法３６例进行ＰＢＭＶ的前瞻性对比研究。结果（１）ＰＢＭＶ引起二尖瓣反流的原因除与瓣膜钙化程度重、瓣下结构紊乱有关以外，瓣口面积小、交界粘连处夹角小是一个重要原因。（２）分级次扩张可使交界粘合处夹角呈渐进性扩大，扩张时不易引起瓣膜撕裂和二尖瓣反流。两组比较Ｉｎｏｎｅ法扩张组二尖瓣反流发生率为１６．７％，分级次扩张组无二尖瓣反流病例，并且术中其他并发症及术后再狭窄发生率后者也明显低于前者。结论球囊导管分级次扩张可有效地预防二尖瓣反流，是治疗二尖瓣狭窄较理想的方法。