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A B S T R A C T Introduction and objectives: The left atrium is clinically relevant in patients with mitral valve stenosis. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty on left atrium volumes and the left atrium emptying fraction in symptomatic mitral valve stenosis patients using 2-dimensional and real-time 3-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. Methods: We carried out a prospective study of 28 consecutive symptomatic mitral valve stenosis patients, aged 22-72 (39 (11.5)) years, 24/28 (85.6%) women, who underwent to percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty between March 2009 and May 2011. Patients underwent 2- and 3-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (atrial fibrillation) and invasive mitral valve area measurement. Echocardiographic analysis was performed before, 72 h after and 12 months after percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. The following parameters were analyzed: a) mitral valve area (2-dimensional planimetry, pressure half-time, 3-dimensional echocardiography, invasive hemody- namic measurement); b) indexed left atrium maximum and indexed minimum volumes, and c) left atrium emptying fraction. Results: The 3-dimensional parameters of the mitral valve stenosis patients before and 72 h and 12 months after percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty were as follows: a) mitral valve area: 0.9 (0.1) cm 2 ; 1.8 (0.2) cm 2 (P

Accurate echocardiographic evaluation of the pulmonary valve is technically difficult because of its close proximity to the left lung, which often limits decision making. Pulmonary valvotomy is the intervention of choice for symptomatic pulmonary valve stenosis, but fluoroscopy lacks appropriate real time anatomic detail. In this report, we present a case where direct imaging of the pulmonary valve with live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) aided in accurate evaluation and was then used to help guide and monitor successful valvuloplasty of a stenotic pulmonary valve bioprosthesis. We demonstrate that even in cases where two-dimensional (2D) evaluation of the pulmonary valve is difficult, the use of live/real time 3DTEE allows for accurate evaluation of bioprosthetic pulmonary valve structure and function, and enhances the precision and monitoring of percutaneous valvuloplasty.

In a 23-year-old patient with congenital stenosis of the aortic valve the pressure gradient could be reduced from 80 to 35 mm Hg using percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty. The systolic pressure in the left ventricle fell from 200 to 165 mm Hg. A pre-existing mild aortic insufficiency did not worsen. In a 44-year-old female patient retrograde passage of a balloon catheter across the aortic valve failed due to technical reasons. At the present time percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty in adults is more difficult than pulmonary valvuloplasty. It can, however, be considered, prior to surgery, in suitable patients with noncalcified valves.

A case is described in which a patient with a Carpentier-Edwards annuloplasty ring developed mitral stenosis and was treated with percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty. Possible mechanisms for the development of mitral stenosis are briefly discussed.

We report a case of a 58-year-old woman with rheumatic mitral stenosis scheduled for percutaneous valvuloplasty. Prior left and right ventricular angiograms showed multiple diverticula at left ventricular apical and diaphragmatic walls and right ventricular diaphragmatic wall. Chest x-ray and echocardiogram were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging was concordant with catheterization findings and ruled out other cardiac malformations. The risk of ventricular perforation changed our indication of percutaneous valvuloplasty in favor of open heart commissurotomy.

A 62-year-old woman with disabling mitral prosthetic stenosis underwent percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. The transvalvular gradient preoperatively was 22 mm Hg and was reduced to 6 mm Hg after the valvuloplasty. the valve area was increased from an initial value of 0.77 cm2 to 1.53 cm2. No complications occurred related to the Further studies are necessary to ascertain the indications and long-term results of percutaneous valvuloplasty on bioprosthesis in the mitral position.

Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty has been used as treatment for native valvular stenosis in the mitral, aortic, pulmonary and tricuspid positions. 1–4 It has also been used as palliative therapy for stenotic bioprosthetic valves.5–8 In this study we present the immediate results and midterm follow up of percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty of 5 bioprosthetic valves in different positions.

Percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty is a palliative treatment for patients with calcific aortic stenosis who would be poor candidates for surgical treatment. The results and associated complications of this procedure were analysed in a series of 47 patients in which different types of dilating catheters were used. In 25 patients a single balloon (19 mm) was used (group A), in 13 patients a bifoil balloon (2 x 15mm) (group B), and in the remaining nine patients (group C) a trefoil balloon (3 x 10mm) was used. An increase in aortic valve area was achieved in all patients. The results obtained with the bifoil balloon were better than with the other types of balloon catheter, with an increase in aortic area of + 118% vs. + 74% (monofoil) and + 76% (trefoil) (P less than 0.05). The tolerance of the inflation procedure was also better with this type of balloon, as it allowed for shorter inflation and deflation times. These results show that balloon aortic valvuloplasty, when indicated, is best performed with a bifoil balloon dilating catheter, and undue complications usually do not occur.

An 88-year-old patient undergoing percutaneous aortic balloon valvuloplasty of a tricuspid aortic valve is described. The patient had mild aortic regurgitation prior to the procedure but developed severe aortic regurgitation after balloon dilatation of the valve. At the time of surgery there was no anatomic disruption of the valve or supporting structures. Development of severe aortic incompetence following balloon valvuloplasty has not been previously reported.

Recently, percutaneous balloon dilatation has been successfully used for treatment of congenital aortic and pulmonary valvular stenoses.1 We report the first case of percutaneous valvuloplasty of a severely stenosed porcine bioprosthetic valve.

Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty is useful for treatment in some patients with valvular stenosis, including those with severe calcification of the valve. 1–4 One case of dilatation of a tricuspid bioprosthetic valve was reported, 4 but none at other positions has been reported. We report the performance and the angiohemodynamic effects of in vivo dilatation in 2 patients with stenotic bioprosthetic valves in the mitral position.