RESUMO
Valvular heart disease represents a significant health care challenge in South Africa; mainly due to the prevalence of rheumatic fever. This review discusses the recent advances in percutaneous heart valve treatment; including heart valve replacement; as an alternative to open prosthetic valve replacement and it's relevance in South Africa. Balloon mitral valvotomy is discussed with emphasis on patient selection; management during pregnancy and management in the presence of left atrial thrombus. Further developments regarding the percutaneous treatment of mitral valve disease include percutaneous treatment of mitral incompeheumatic heart disease meets all the epidemiological criteria for screening in the South African population. The incorporation of echocardiographic screening programmes into the school health system and in antenatal clinics for the pre-symptomatic diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease could result in the reduction of morbidity and mortality through the early and wide application of secondary antibiotic prophylaxis.;;Rheumatic Fever