title: Feasibility of simplifying balloon mitral valvuloplasty by obviating left-sided cardiac catheterization using on-line guidance with transesophageal echocardiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of simplifying balloon mitral valvuloplasty through the obviation of left-sided cardiac catheterization using on-line guidance with transesophageal echocardiography in patients with mitral stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A tertiary care medical center
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who were eligible for balloon mitral valvuloplasty were enrolled into the study if they had no evidence of ischemic heart disease. Sixty-six patients (50 women and 16 men) met the criteria. Balloon mitral valvuloplasty was performed through right-sided cardiac catheterization using adjunctive on-line guidance with transesophageal echocardiography. Left-sided catheterization was obviated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Balloon mitral valvuloplasty was smoothly performed in all patients. Successful dilatation (postprocedural mitral orifice area, > 1.5 cm(2); or increment in mitral orifice area, >or= 50%) was achieved in 50 patients (75.8%). The mean (+/- SD) mitral orifice area increased from 1.08 +/- 0.23 cm(2) to 1.68 +/- 0.39 cm(2) (p = 0.0000). There were no in-hospital deaths, no patients with cardiac tamponade, or complications necessitating an emergency cardiac operation. The mean fluoroscopy time was 7.6 +/- 3.9 min, and the total procedure time was 50.2 +/- 15.0 min.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is feasible and safe to simplify balloon mitral valvuloplasty by obviating left-sided cardiac catheterization in selected patients with mitral stenosis using adjunctive on-line guidance with transesophageal echocardiography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. cwchiang@ms1.cgh.org.tw
authors.forename: Cheng-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Lung-An
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Po-Hsien
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Wan-Jing
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Hung-Shun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Chao-Chien
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D021721:Balloon Occlusion; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*