title: Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty in mitral restenosis after previous surgical commissurotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the safety profile, mitral valve outcome and follow-up functional status after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) in patients with mitral restenosis post-surgical commissurotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with symptomatic mitral restenosis after previous surgical commissurotomy underwent valvuloplasty using the Inoue balloon stepwise dilatation method. Echocardiography was performed before and after the procedure to evaluate the mitral valve area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All procedures were successfully completed without cardiac perforation, thromboembolism, resultant severe mitral regurgitation or death. The mitral valve area improved from 0.9 +/- 0.2 to 1.6 +/- 0.3 (p = 0.0001), accompanied by a significant immediate reduction in the left atrial pressure and transmitral gradient. Compared with PBMV in patients without past mitral surgery, patients with mitral restenosis undergoing PBMV experienced less valve area improvement but the difference was not significant (p = 0.137). Optimal valve enlargement resulting in mild mitral stenosis was achieved in 12 of the 16 patients. Midterm symptomatic benefit was observed in almost all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In view of the excellent success rate, low complication risk, the optimal haemodynamic results and favourable functional outcome afforded by mitral balloon valvuloplasty in patients with mitral restenosis after prior surgical commissurotomy, it is logical that balloon mitral valvuloplasty, where available, should be the initial treatment modality in this group of patients with suitable valve morphology before considering repeat mitral surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology Singapore General Hospital.
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Z P
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quek
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Chee
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012494:Sampling Studies