Immediate and mid-term results of repeat percutaneous mitral commissurotomy for restenosis following earlier percutaneous mitral commissurotomy.

AIMS: This study assessed the results of repeat percutaneous mitral commissurotomy for mitral restenosis following a first procedure. METHODS AND RESULTS: Repeat balloon commissurotomy was performed in 53 patients who had symptomatic restenosis a mean of 6+/-2 years (2-11) after a successful first procedure; seven patients had mildly calcified valves. All patients had restenosis with a fusion of both commissures as assessed by echocardiography. A double-balloon was used in one case and the Inoue technique in 52. Complications were stroke in one patient and severe mitral regurgitation (Sellers grade 3) in two. Valve area increased from 1.03+/-0.22 to 1.82+/-0.21 cm(2)(P<0.0001) as assessed by planimetry. Good immediate results, defined as valve area >/=1.5 cm(2)with no regurgitation >2/4, were obtained in 48 patients (91%). The 5-year survival rate without operation and in NYHA class I or II was 69+/-11% in the whole population, and 76+/-11% in the 48 patients who had had good immediate results. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that repeat balloon commissurotomy is a valid treatment for symptomatic restenosis after a first successful procedure. It gives good results in patients selected on the basis of favourable characteristics and the echocardiographic analysis of the mechanism of restenosis.

Late results of percutaneous mitral commissurotomy for calcific mitral stenosis.

The aim of this study was to assess late results of percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC) in calcific mitral stenosis and to identify predictors to improve patient selection. We analyzed 422 patients who underwent PMC for calcific mitral stenosis. The extent of calcium was graded from 1 to 4 by fluoroscopy: 227 patients (53%) were graded 1, 125 (30%) graded 2, 55 graded 3 (13%), and 15 graded 4 (4%). The procedure failed in 15 patients, used a single balloon in 11, a double balloon in 126, and the Inoue balloon in 270. In-hospital mortality was 1.2%. Good immediate results (valve area >/=1.5 cm(2) without mitral regurgitation >2/4), were obtained in 321 patients (76%). Multivariate analysis identified 5 predictors of good immediate results: a younger age (p = 0.0004), a lesser degree of stenosis (p = 0.0005), a smaller extent of calcium (p = 0.04), the use of the Inoue balloon (p = 0.015), and a larger effective balloon dilating area (p = 0.006). Good functional results, defined as survival with no further intervention and in New York Heart Association class I or II, were 36 +/- 4% at 8 years. The predictors of good functional results after good immediate results were a younger age (p = 0.04), a lower pre-PMC New York Heart Association class (p <0.0001), sinus rhythm (p = 0.0006), a smaller extent of calcium (p = 0.02), and a lower gradient after PMC (p <0.0001). Despite a frequent deterioration on follow-up after PMC for calcific mitral stenosis, the predictive analysis suggests that PMC may be useful in deferring surgery in selected patients with mild to moderate calcific deposits, who have otherwise favorable characteristics.

Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy for restenosis after surgical commissurotomy: late efficacy and implications for patient selection.

OBJECTIVES: The results of percutaneous mitral commissurotomy were assessed in patients with restenosis after surgical commissurotomy. BACKGROUND: Balloon dilation is feasible in patients with restenosis after surgical commissurotomy, but little is known about its late efficacy. METHODS: We studied 232 patients who had undergone percutaneous mitral commissurotomy a mean of 16 +/- 8 years after surgical commissurotomy. Mean age was 47 +/- 14 years; 81 patients (35%) had valve calcification. All patients had restenosis with bilateral commissural fusion as assessed by echocardiography. Technical failure occurred in 9 patients and the procedure used a single balloon in 7 patients, a double balloon in 95, and the Inoue balloon in 121. RESULTS: Complications were death in 1 patient (0.4%) and mitral regurgitation >2/4 in 10 (4%); 191 patients (82%) had good immediate results (valve area > or =1.5 cm2 without regurgitation >2/4). Predictors of poor immediate results in multivariate analysis were older age (p < 0.001), lower initial valve area (p = 0.01) and the use of the double-balloon technique (p = 0.015). In the 175 patients who underwent follow-up, 8-year survival without operation and in New York Heart Association class I or II was 48 +/- 5%, and 58 +/- 6% after good immediate results. In this latter group, poor late functional results were predicted by higher cardiothoracic index (p < 0.0001), previous open-heart commissurotomy (p = 0.05) and lower final valve area (p < 0.0001) in a multivariate Cox model. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy is safe and provides good immediate results in selected patients with restenosis after surgical commissurotomy. After good immediate results, the conditions of more than half of the patients remained improved at 8 years, enabling reoperation to be deferred.

Late results of percutaneous mitral commissurotomy in a series of 1024 patients. Analysis of late clinical deterioration: frequency, anatomic findings, and predictive factors.

BACKGROUND: The optimal use of percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC) in a wide range of patients requires accurate evaluation of late results and identification of their predictors. METHODS AND RESULTS: Late results of PMC were assessed in 1024 patients whose mean age was 49+/-14 years. Echocardiography showed that 141 patients (14%) had pliable valves and mild subvalvular disease, 569 (55%) had extensive subvalvular disease, and 314 (31%) had calcified valves. A single balloon was used in 26 patients, a double balloon in 390, and the Inoue Balloon in 608. Good immediate results were defined as valve area >/=1.5 cm2 without regurgitation >2/4 (Sellers' grade) and were obtained in 912 patients. Median duration of follow-up was 49 months. The 10-year actuarial rate of good functional results (survival with no cardiovascular death and no need for surgery or repeat dilatation and in New York Heart Association [NYHA] class I or II) was 56+/-4% in the entire population. Follow-up echocardiography was available in 90% of the patients who experienced poor functional results after good immediate results and showed restenosis in 97% of these. In multivariate analysis, the predictors of poor functional results were old age (P=0.0008), unfavorable valve anatomy (P=0.003), high NYHA class (P<0.0001), atrial fibrillation (P<0.0001), low valve area after PMC (P=0.001), high gradient after PMC (P<0.0001), and grade 2 mitral regurgitation after PMC (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: PMC can be performed with good late results in a variety of patient subsets. Prediction of late events is multifactorial. Knowledge of these predictors can improve patient selection and follow-up.