The long-term outcome of balloon valvuloplasty for mitral stenosis.

Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC) is the treatment of choice in young patients who have favorable valve anatomy. It affords an event-free survival greater than 90% at 5 to 7 years,. Economic considerations are the main limitation of PMC in such patients, who are mainly encountered in developing countries. Mitral stenosis in older patients with less favorable valve anatomy is the most frequent presentation in Western countries. This represents a heterogeneous group, but predictive analyses are helpful in deciding who should have PMC. The main conclusion is that the prediction of immediate and late results is multifactorial. Good results can be expected in young patients with unfavorable valve anatomy who do not have a very tight stenosis, are moderately symptomatic, and in sinus rhythm. In addition, PMC may reduce the thromboembolic risk related to mitral stenosis.