Double balloon mitral valvuloplasty through dual femoral vein punctures and a single atrial septal puncture.

A modification of a previously described double balloon mitral valvuloplasty procedure is described. This involves dual femoral vein punctures with a single atrial septal puncture. After initial transseptal catheterization and predilatation of the interatrial septum with an 8-mm balloon, a second catheter is advanced through the resulting atrial septal defect allowing access to the left atrium and left ventricle through the mitral valve via two separate femoral vein puncture sites. In comparison with the previously described technique using two balloon catheters inserted through a single femoral vein puncture site, this modification has reduced the amount of bleeding from the femoral vein and the need for transfusion. Furthermore, the potential for subsequent interatrial shunting is less than with the alternative previously described technique utilizing two femoral vein punctures with two separate punctures in the interatrial septum. In utilizing two separate femoral vein punctures with only one atrial septal puncture this technique combines advantages of the two previously described techniques.