Balloon mitral valve dilatation as an aid to weaning from ventilatory support in patients with intractable pulmonary oedema caused by severe mitral stenosis.

Intractable pulmonary oedema in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation must be investigated as older patients with severe mitral stenosis can be rescued by balloon dilatation of the mitral valve, thus enabling elective cardiac surgery at reduced risk. We describe two such cases and discuss the role of transoesophageal echocardiography in the intensive care unit in the diagnosis and management of these patients.