Initial experience of using intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) for guiding balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV)

BMV is an established treatment for rheumatic mitral valve stenosis. The procedure is historically guided by fluoroscopy, and the role of intracardiac echocardiogram (ICE) guidance is not well defined. We report our initial experience of using ICE to guide BMV procedures.

During BMV procedure, ICE catheter was inserted into the right atrium from the right femoral vein, and the septal puncture was monitored by ICE, as well as positioning of the balloon in the mitral valve. Comparisons were made between ICE, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and catheterization derived hemodynamic measurements (cath).

Seventeen patients with mitral stenosis underwent the procedure. The mean age was 44.4 ± 21 years. The mean MV area increased from 0.9 ± 0.1 cm(2) to 1.7 ± 0.2 cm(2), P < 0.0001 and the mean gradient decreased from 12.6 ± 5.8 mmHg to 4.9 ± 1.8 mmHg, P < 0.001. Atrial septum puncture and guidance of the balloon into the MV apparatus were obtained in all patients under ICE guidance. Severe MR developed in one patient and was readily detected by ICE. ICE derived gradient measurements were comparable to those obtained by TTE, and cath.

ICE guidance of BMV is feasible, and useful in monitoring safe septal puncture, optimizing balloon positioning, and in detecting complications. The hemodynamic measurements obtained were comparable to those obtained by TTE, and cath.