Percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty in patients with restenosis after surgical commissurotomy: a comparative study

We performed percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMV) in 367 patients to compare the effectiveness of PMV between patients with mitral restenosis after surgical commissurotomy (group 1) and patients with unoperated mitral stenosis (group 2). Twenty-two had undergone closed or open mitral commissurotomy 11.2 years before. There were no significant differences in clinical profiles between the two groups. The mitral valve area was increased from 1.0 +/- 0.8 to 1.8 +/- 0.6 cm2 in group 1 and 0.9 +/- 0.3 to 2.0 +/- 0.7 cm2 in group 2 (p> 0.05). The mitral gradient was decreased from 14 +/- 5.9 to 6 +/- 2.6 mmHg in group 1 and 18 +/- 7.0 to 7 +/- 5.3 mmHg in group 2 (p> 0.05). The increment of mitral regurgitation and significant left to right shunt after PMV were not significantly different (10% versus 14.7%, 5% versus 10.4% respectively). Optimal results were attained in 75% of the patients in group 1 and in 84.3% of the patients in group 2 (p> 0.05). These results suggest PMV in mitral restenosis after surgical commissurotomy may be safe in selected patients and may be equally effective as in unoperated mitral stenosis.

Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty of a Stenosis of an Internal Mammary Artery Graft

Successful percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of an internal mammary artery graft was performed in a 40 year old male patient who had recurrent angina soon after bypass surgery. Coronary angiography showed total occlusion of proximal portion of the left anterior descending artery and normal right coronary artery. Angiography of the left internal mammary artery graft revealed a tight stenosis (90% diameter narrowing) in the mammary artery at its insection into the left anterior descending artery.Angiography after the angioplasty demonstrated a widely patent graft (residual stenosis 10%) and translesional pressure gradient was 10 mmHg.

A Case of Supravalvular and Valvular Aortic Stenosis

Supravalvular aortic stenosis may be defined as an obstructive congenital deformity of the ascending aorta which originates just distal to the level of the origins of the coronary arteries. It may be localized or diffuse, and includes a wide spectrum of pathologic changes. A 16 years old school boy was admitted because of exertional dyspnea for 6 years. Clinical diagnosis of supravalvular and valvular aortic stenosis with bicuspid aortic valves and myocardial hypertrophy was made by echocardiography and angiocardiography. Surgical correction was performed successfully. We presented a case of supravalvular and valvular aortic stenosis with a review of literatures.