title: Percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy: initial experience in Nairobi using a new multi-track catheter system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine efficacy and safety of the new multi-track catheter system for percutaneous baloon mitral valvotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Open, non-randomised intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiac catheterisation Laboratories of Mater Misericordiae Hospital (1997) and Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi(1994).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty four consecutive patients with symptomatic severe pure mitral stenosis (less than 2+ mitral regurgitation) and suitable mitral valve apparatus(leaflets, chordae and papillary muscles) for successful commissurotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Percutaneous mitral baloon valvotomy under local anaesthesia. Standard left and right heart catheterisation for mitral valve disease. Transeptal left atrial entry using standard septal puncture technique and left ventricle position secured by single long-stiff guide-wire. Double-baloon mitral valvotomy on single guide-wire using multi-track baloon catheters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mitral valve area, left atrial pressures, mitral regurgitation grade.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mitral valve area increased from 0.65 +/- 0.15cm2 to 1.98 +/- 0.34cm2 (P < 0.01), left atrial pressures from 30.5 +/- 9.1 to 11.9 +/- 5.1mmHg (P < 0.01). No significant change in mitral regurgitation grades. No complications related to multi-track technique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Percutaneous baloon mitral valvotomy using the multi track technique is effective and safe.
authors.affiliation: Heart Unit, Mater Hospital, Nairobi.
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Yonga
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonhoeffer
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Jowi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome