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The long-term effect of successful mitral balloon valvotomy on left atrial size
M A Stefadouros1, M E Fawzy, S Malik
1Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Successful mitral balloon valvotomy (MBV) significantly reduces left atrial enlargement long-term. However, complete normalization of left atrial size is uncommon, especially in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Echocardiography
Background:
- Mitral stenosis frequently leads to left atrial (LA) enlargement.
- Mitral balloon valvotomy (MBV) is a treatment for mitral stenosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the regression of left atrial enlargement after successful mitral balloon valvotomy (MBV).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of data from 205 patients before and after successful MBV.
- Echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 31 months.
Main Results:
- Successful MBV significantly increased mitral valve area and decreased mitral gradient.
- Significant reductions in LA dimensions and volume were observed post-MBV.
- Patients in sinus rhythm showed greater LA size reduction compared to those in atrial fibrillation.
Conclusions:
- Successful MBV leads to significant, long-term reduction in LA size for most patients.
- Complete normalization of LA size is infrequent after MBV, particularly in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Background And Aim Of The Study:
The study aim was to determine the extent of regression of left atrial (LA) enlargement following mitral balloon valvotomy (MBV) for mitral stenosis.
Methods:
Data obtained from 205 patients before, and at a mean of 31.0 +/- 21.1 months (range: 6 to 86.3 months) after successful MBV were analyzed retrospectively.
Results:
The invasively determined mitral valve area increased from 0.81 +/- 0.27 cm2 at baseline to 1.73 +/- 0.54 cm2 immediately after valvotomy (p <0.0001), and the mean mitral gradient fell from 15.6 +/- 5.3 to 5.4 +/- 2.5 mmHg (p <0.0001). Similar changes were noted in Doppler-determined mitral valve area (0.89 +/- 0.16 to 1.97 +/- 0.29 cm2; p <0.0001) and gradient (12.6 +/- 5.3 to 4.9 +/- 1.7 mmHg; p <0.0001). In comparison with baseline, significant (p <0.0001) reductions were noted at follow up in the echocardiographic anteroposterior (48.7 +/- 6.9 to 42.4 +/- 6.6 mm), superior-inferior (68.5 +/-8.1 to 59.6 +/- 8.2 mm) and medial-lateral LA dimension (51.2 +/- 6.7 to 44.1 +/- 7.7 mm) and calculated LA volume (91.6 +/- 29.1 to 60.7 +/- 23.8 cm3) Patients in atrial fibrillation had larger LA dimensions, but substantially smaller absolute and relative reduction in LA size at follow up than patients in sinus rhythm. Among patients with prevalvotomy LA enlargement, normalization of LA dimension at follow up was seen in 29.2% of patients in sinus rhythm, but in none of the 32 with atrial fibrillation.
Conclusions:
Successful MBV results in significant long-term reduction in LA size in most patients, but normalization of LA size is unusual.
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