Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty (PBMV) involves atrial septostomy during the procedure. One of the consequences of transseptal puncture is the creation of an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) can detect Left to Right (L-R) shunts too small to be detected by other methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 3 years follow-up of ASD closure after PBMV by TEE. 200 consecutive patients with rheumatic Mitral Stenosis (MS) who underwent successful PBMV by using the Inoue balloon catheter were studied prospectively. ASD with small L-R atrial shunting occurred in all the patients (100%) immediately after PBMV. Total study 200 patients. All the ASDs were small in size (≤ 5 mm). The puncture site (ASD site) occurred in the fossa ovalis (Fo.Ov) in 120 patients (60%), while it occurred outside the Fo.Ov (either in the superior limbus or in the inferior limbus of the Interatrial Septum (IAS)) in the other 80 patients (40%). 180 patients presented at 6 month follow-up. ASD was closed in 117 patients (65%), while it was persisted in 63 patients (35%). 95 patients presented at 3 years follow-up. ASD was closed in 76 patients (80%) (Group I), while it was persisted in 19 patients (20%) (Group II). All the 74 patients who had ASD immediately after PBMV in the Fo.Ov, presented with ASD closure at 3 years follow-up. Only 2 patients who had ASD immediately after PBMV outside the Fo.Ov, presented with ASD closure at 3 years follow-up. All the 19 patients who presented at 3 years follow-up with ASD persistence had ASD immediately after PBMV outside the Fo.Ov (14 in the superior limbus and 5 in the inferior limbus). No patient presented at 3 years follow-up with ASD persistence, had ASD immediately after PBMV in the Fo.Ov Large LAD, high total Echocardiographic (echo) score of the Mitral Valve (MV), thick Fo.Ov, thick superior limbus, thick inferior limbus and ASD site immediately after PBMV outside the Fo.Ov were significant predictors of ASD persistence at 3 years follow-up. In conclusion, ASD with L-R atrial shunting occurs in all the patients after PBMV by using the Inoue balloon catheter. ASD after PBMV persists in 20% of the patients at 3 years follow-up. Predictors of ASD persistence at 3 years follow-up are: large LAD, high total echo score of the MV, thick Fo.Ov, thick superior limbus, thick inferior limbus and ASD site immediately after PBMV outside the Fo.Ov. ASD closes at 3 years follow-up in all the patients who had ASD in the Fo.Ov immediately after PBMV. All the patients with ASD persistence at 3 years follow-up had ASD outside the Fo.Ov after PBMV. It is recommended that operators doing transseptal puncture during PBMV by using the Inoue balloon catheter should aim to do it in the Fo.Ov.
Long-Term Results of Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty Using the Inoue Balloon Catheter Technique
