Calcification of the valve is frequently encountered at valvotomy for the relief of mitral stenosis. Calcific embolism is a recognized hazard of the operation, but Michell (1960), who has reviewed the problem of valvular calcification with regard to mitral valvotomy, has stated that, "the danger from calcific emboli during valvotomy does not seem to be very great." Perhaps it is not always reco...

UNLABELLED Inoue-balloon percutaneous transvenous mitral valvuloplasty is conventionally performed via the right femoral vein. However, atrial transseptal access can be technically challenging. Herein, we describe a 54-year-old male who had balloon mitral valvuloplasty performed via the left femoral vein because of an anomalous inferior vena cava course, including the technical issues encounter...

Background. We performed a prospective, randomized trial comparing percutaneous balloon commissurotomy with surgical closed commissurotomy in 40 patients with severe rheumatic mitral stenosis. Methods and Results. Data were analyzed by investigators who were masked to treatment assignment or phase of study. Patients randomized to balloon (n=20) or surgical (n=20) commissurotomy had severe mitra...

Surgical treatment of a rheumatic valvular lesion may exaggerate the physical signs or lead to the recognition for the first time of another valvular lesion. This is seen in combined lesions of the aortic and mitral valves and less frequently of the mitral and tricuspid valve. Tricuspid stenosis (Pantridge and Marshall, 1957) and tricuspid incompetence (Mounsey, 1959) have been revealed after m...

AIMS Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS) is a complex congenital heart malformation with multitude therapeutic approaches. Recently, balloon valvotomy has been used as an alternative to primary surgery. This study aimed to identify echocardiographic markers of balloon dilation success in PA-IVS. METHODS AND RESULTS The echocardiograms of 26 patients diagnosed with PA-IVS...

Transseptal catheterization is a vital component of percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy. Therefore, a well-executed transseptal catheterization is the key to a safe and successful percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy. Two major problems inherent in atrial septel puncture for percutaneous transvenous mitral cornmissurotomy are cardiac perforation and puncture of an inappropr...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the significance of commissural calcification, identified by transthoracic echocardiography, on the haemodynamic and symptomatic outcome of mitral balloon valvotomy. METHODS Commissural calcification was graded from 0-4 using parasternal short axis transthoracic views. The morphology of the mitral valve was also assessed using the Massachusetts General Hospital echo scor...

BACKGROUND We performed a prospective, randomized trial comparing percutaneous balloon commissurotomy with surgical closed commissurotomy in 40 patients with severe rheumatic mitral stenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS Data were analyzed by investigators who were masked to treatment assignment or phase of study. Patients randomized to balloon (n = 20) or surgical (n = 20) commissurotomy had severe m...

Until recently, percutaneous catheter therapy for valvular heart disease was limited to catheter balloon valvuloplasty for aortic, mitral, or pulmonic stenosis. A number of new approaches to percutaneous valve therapy are now developing rapidly, including methods for catheter-based valve replacement and repair. Stent-mounted valve prostheses have been successfully implanted in the pulmonic and ...

Conflicting views have been expressed regarding the advisability of mitral valvotomy in pregnancy. Little attention has been paid to the effect of pregnancy on the deterioration in cardiac status subsequent to mitral valvotomy. This study has been undertaken in an effort to clarify these two issues. Before June 1963, 903 patients under the care of one of us (J.F.P.) had mitral valvotomy. Of the...