In no case was right atrial angiography used as a guide for transseptal puncture. MVA was measured using the Gorlin formula. Results Hemodynamic changes produced by MBV are shown in Figures 1 and 2 and Table 1. Figure 3 shows how the balloon was inflated in the LV and Figure 4 shows the characteristic hourglass appearance of the balloon across the mitral valve. In seven patients, MR either decreased or completely disappeared.
Parameters pre and post mitral balloon valvuloplasty.
Hourglass appearance of the balloon across the mitral valve. In the eight patients investigated one month later, the shunt has disappeared. Complications - Severe MR developed in two patients and both required mitral valve replacement after one day. There were no incidences of perforations, embolisms or mortality. In one case, transseptal puncture was unsuccessful because of hyperelastic septum, and in one patient the mitral valve was not dilated despite four successive dilatations to 30 mm of a 28 mm balloon.