title: The role of catheter balloon commissurotomy for severe mitral stenosis in pregnancy.
abstract: Mitral stenosis is one of the more commonly seen valve lesions encountered in pregnancy. The pathophysiologic implications, management strategies, and a comprehensive review of literature over the past 20 years for optimal timing of catheter balloon commissurotomy during pregnancy are discussed. Mechanical relief of obstruction is indicated for cases of severe symptomatic mitral stenosis in pregnancy refractory to medical therapy. Catheter balloon commissurotomy is the procedure of choice in a select group of these patients with suitable valve morphology.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and Division of Cardiology, University of California, Irvine, California; and Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Griffith Center, Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Afshan B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Hameed
authors.forename: Anilkumar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mehra
authors.forename: Shahbudin H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Rahimtoola
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000601:surgery*