Echocardiographic Follow-up Assessment of Mitral Valve Structure and Function in Patients Followed for 3 Months after Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty

ABSTRACT

Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic examination were obtained in 31 patients both immediately and 2 to 5 months(mean3.1+/-1.8) after balloon dilation. Mitral valve area by planimetry immediately after valvuloplasty measured 1.8+/-0.3cm2 and 1.7+/-0.3cm2 at 2-5 months follow-up, but the difference was satistically insignificant. More than 15% decrease of the mitral valve area at follow-up was noticed in 10 patients(32%), but the valve area at follow-up was >1.5cm2 in all patients. Left atrial size(antero-posterior diameter) and volume by 2-dimensional echocardiography decreased more remarkably from 4.4+/-0.7cm, 82+/-42cm3 immediatly after vavuloplasty to 4.2+/-0.7cm, 68+/-26cm2 at follow-up respectively but there was no statistical significance. Mitral regurgitation graded by pulsed Doppler ultrasound decreased from 1.6+/-0.7 immediatly after valvuloplasty to 1.3+/-0.5(p<0.09) at follow-up, but there was no significant change in peak E velocity, EF slope, fractional shortening and ejection fraction. Symptomatic improvement at follow-up occured in all but one patient. Thus, 2 to 5 months after balloon mitral valvuloplasty there was no significantly after valvuloplasty decreased slightly at follow-up.