Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty in 6 patients

: We performed a percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty in 6 patients with severe mitral stenosis, aged 21 to 50 years. The mitral valve gradient decreased from 14.7 +/- 4.9 to 6.3 +/- 4.0 mmHg, p = 0.03. Mitral valve area increased in 5 patients (0.92 +/- 0.23 to 2.32 +/- 0.26 cm2, p = 0.04). One patient developed a transient cerebral ischemic attack without sequelae and mild mitral insufficiency. The diameter of the mitral annulus as measured by echocardiography was 48.5 +/- 8.1 mm, significantly larger than that reported in other series. The curvature of the transseptal needle was selected after an echocardiographic view of the inferior vena cava and atria from the subcostal window. This allowed a successful procedure in all patients regardless of cavity size.