A new over-the-wire percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty technique.

OBJECTIVES

To develop and evaluate a new over-the-wire technique for mitral valvuloplasty that is both technically easier and less costly.

BACKGROUND

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and resultant mitral stenosis (MS) carries a significant burden of disease worldwide. The prevalence is however concentrated in lower income countries where the current gold standard for percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMBV)-the Inoue technique, is not always available due to cost and technical complexity.

METHODS

The development of an over-the-wire technique involving a steerable catheter to aid crossing of the valve and a dedicated TAVI wire is described. The procedure evolved over the initial eight cases and the final standardized procedure was performed in 16 cases. Clinical, echocardiographic and procedural outcomes are described in 16 consecutive cases performed at a single center.

RESULTS

The procedure was performed with 88% procedural success and only one technical failure during the development phase. 2/24 patients had moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) afterwards but one had unfavorable anatomy and the other had pre-procedural moderate MR. The average procedural duration was 66 min, which was shortened significantly over time. No procedural deaths or conversion to open surgery at 1 year. Procedural cost was 44% lower than the Inoue technique.

CONCLUSION

We present favorable results of a new PMBV technique that is cheaper and technically easier in our opinion.