Echocardiographic effect of successful balloon mitral valvuloplasty on right ventricular function

Rheumatic cardiac disease is an immunologic phenomenon that may affect any of the heart valves and is by far the most common cause of mitral stenosis. To evaluate impact of successful percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty on right ventricular function. 30 consecutive patients who underwent balloon mitral valvuloplasty for rheumatic mitral stenosis between September 2010 and July 2011 at Ain Shams University hospital were included. All patients were subjected to transthoracic echo Doppler study, tissue Doppler imaging and TEE for: (A) Assessment of severity of mitral stenosis. (B) Peak myocardial velocities during systole, early and late diastole. (C) Assessment of RV function by measurement of TAPSE and Tie index. The study revealed a significant drop in TAPSE (before and 24 h after, P 0.008; before and 3 ms after, P 0.001) respectively. There was no significant change 24 h and 3 ms after the procedure (P 0.220) .There was no significant change in IVC flow before and after 24 h (P 0.221). There was no significant drop between before and after 3 ms (P 0.062). There was no significant change between 24 h and 3 ms after the procedure (P 0.264). There was a significant drop in Tie index (before and 24 h after, P 0.008; before and 3 ms after, P 0.009) respectively but no significant drop was found 24 h and 3 ms after the procedure (P 0.373). The current study showed a significant improvement in both systolic and diastolic functions of RV as observed by different echocardiographic parameters post BMV in patients without organic TV disease.