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Updated: Oct 5, 2026

A Simplified Stepwise Approach to Echo Guidance during Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair
Published on: October 16, 2021
Utility of stress Doppler echocardiography in patients undergoing percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy
R J Aviles1, R A Nishimura, P A Pellikka
1Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Abstract:
A subset of patients with mitral stenosis have symptoms out of proportion to the resting hemodynamics. Exercise Doppler echocardiography is a useful diagnostic modality to determine which patients are limited by their valve obstruction and would therefore benefit from percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy. We analyzed 11 patients who showed a peak exercise mean mitral gradient that doubled from baseline or a final gradient of > 15 mm Hg. The mean mitral gradient increased from 7 +/- 2 mm Hg at rest to 19 +/- 6 mm Hg (P < .001) with exercise. All patients reported improvement in symptoms of at least 1 functional class after valvotomy.
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