BACKGROUND: Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC) with a single balloon is the most used technique to treat symptomatic mitral stenosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate a new single balloon (Inoue-type) in patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis undergoing percutaneous mitral commissurotomy with a single balloon. METHOD: Patients undergoing PMC with a single balloon from March/2008 to September/2009 were included, comparing the group treated with the Inoue-type balloon to the group treated with Inoue's classic balloon. Pre and post procedure echocardiogram and late follow up were carried out. RESULTS: Patients were divided into two groups for comparison: A, Inoue-type balloon (n = 16) and B, original Inoue balloon (n = 10). Both groups presented similar clinical characteristics. Mitral valve area increased from 1.03 ± 0.24 cm² to 1.75 ± 0.22 cm² in group A and 1.08 ± 0.25 cm² to 1.88 ± 0.41 cm² in B (P = 0.33). There were no cases of cardiac perforation, cardiac tamponate and severe mitral insufficiency requiring surgery. Two group A patients presented hematoma > 10 cm (12.5% in group A vs. 0 in group B; P = 0.27). Event free survival was 100% in group A and 90% in group B (P = 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy is safe and effective. The new Inoue-type balloon showed comparable results with Inoue's classic balloon.
Mitral valve stenosis; Balloon dilatation; Heart catheterization; Echocardiography
