Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy with the Inoue balloon for severe mitral stenosis during pregnancy

Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy using the Inoue balloon was performed in seven pregnant women between May 1990 and November 1991. The mean age of the group was 31.5 years (range 28-35 years). The mean gestation time was 29 weeks (range 20-38 weeks). All patients presented with severe symptoms; two had a recent history of pulmonary oedema, the rest exhibited marked shortness of breath, and mild exercise and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. All were in sinus rhythm. Two patients had previously undergone closed mitral valvulotomy five and 14 years before their recent hospitalization. Echocardiographic examination revealed severe mitral stenosis, with the mitral valve area being less than 1.2 cm2 in all but one patient. None of the patients had left atrial thrombi or mitral regurgitation as seen on two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. Four patients (two with restenosis) had severe lesions of the subvalvular apparatus with thickening and marked shortening of the chordae, as assessed by echocardiography. Successful percutaneous mitral valvulotomy was completed in all seven patients using 25-28 mm Inoue balloons. There was one, transient maternal complications. Fetal complication did not occur. It is concluded that percutaneous, transseptal, mitral balloon valvulotomy during pregnancy with the Inoue balloon is a safe procedure, which can be recommended for suitable clinical cases.