Immediate and long-term outcome of multiple percutaneous interventions in patients with rheumatic valvular stenosis.

AIMS: We sought to explore the immediate and long-term outcome of combined percutaneous valvuloplasty of the mitral and/or aortic and/or tricuspid valves in a series of patients with rheumatic valvular stenosis.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

A total of 11 patients (three underwent percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty [PMV], percutaneous aortic valvuloplasty [PAV] and percutaneous tricuspid valvuloplasty [PTV], six underwent PMV and PAV, and two underwent PMV and PTV) were enrolled. PMV was performed by the standard double balloon technique. PAV was always performed after PMV, employing the retrograde approach in eight patients and the antegrade approach in one patient. PTV was performed by the double balloon technique. Echocardiographic assessment was performed before and after the procedures. Follow-up was performed in all patients for a period that ranged from 12 and up to 60 months. PMV was successful in 10 out of 11 cases (91%); PAV was successful in all nine procedures (100%), while PTV was successful in four out of five cases (80%). At long-term follow-up, one case of restenosis occurred following PMV (9%), two following PTV (40%), and no restenosis occurred following PAV.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous balloon dilatation of rheumatic valvular stenosis is feasible with fairly adequate immediate and long-term outcome.