title: Percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty.
abstract: 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%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9047, USA.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Mayes
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cigarroa
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Hillis
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000150:complications; D014463:Ultrasonography