Follow-Up Assessment after Percutaneous Mitral Valvuloplasty (PMV) with Inoue Balloon

Background：Percutaneous Mitral Valvuloplasty (PMV) is the first-line treatment modality in selected patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis and more recently available Inoue single-balloon catheter technique produces good results with low incidence of complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate and over 6 months follow-up results after successful PMV with an Inoue balloon and to identify the predictive factors for the results. Methods：From May 1995 to Feburary 1997, a PMV with an Inoue balloon was technically suc-cessful in 114 (95%) of the 119 patients treated at the Sejong General Hostpital. In this study, a series of echocar-diographic follow-up were performed in 54 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis, at least 6 months after their successful PMV. In PMV, the inflation was conducted in steps, starting with a recommended maximum size of balloon by the Inoue criteria. After each inflation, the mitral valve opening and competence were evaluated by Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and continuing increase balloon size. Results：Echocardiographic follow-up assessment was performed in 54 patients serially in a interval of 3 months or 6 months. Their mean age was 46±11 years (24 to 66 years) and the mean total echocardiographic score was 7.1±1.6. A optimal result was obtained in 95 % of the cases (51/54). The post-PMV mitral valve area increased to 1.95±0.37 cm2 and 1.79± 0.28 cm2 by 2-D and Doppler method, the average transmitral mean diastolic pressure gradient decreased to