Percutaneous balloon mitral valvotomy: initial experience in Nairobi using a new multi-track catheter system.

OBJECTIVE

To determine efficacy and safety of the new multi-track catheter system for percutaneous baloon mitral valvotomy.

DESIGN

Open, non-randomised intervention.

SETTING

Cardiac catheterisation Laboratories of Mater Misericordiae Hospital (1997) and Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi(1994).

PATIENTS: Twenty four consecutive patients with symptomatic severe pure mitral stenosis (less than 2+ mitral regurgitation) and suitable mitral valve apparatus(leaflets, chordae and papillary muscles) for successful commissurotomy.

INTERVENTION: Percutaneous mitral baloon valvotomy under local anaesthesia. Standard left and right heart catheterisation for mitral valve disease. Transeptal left atrial entry using standard septal puncture technique and left ventricle position secured by single long-stiff guide-wire. Double-baloon mitral valvotomy on single guide-wire using multi-track baloon catheters.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mitral valve area, left atrial pressures, mitral regurgitation grade.

RESULTS

Mitral valve area increased from 0.65 +/- 0.15cm2 to 1.98 +/- 0.34cm2 (P < 0.01), left atrial pressures from 30.5 +/- 9.1 to 11.9 +/- 5.1mmHg (P < 0.01). No significant change in mitral regurgitation grades. No complications related to multi-track technique.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous baloon mitral valvotomy using the multi track technique is effective and safe.