Mitral balloon valvuloplasty using a retrograde transventricular approach via the brachial artery

Mitral balloon valvuloplasty was performed successfully in two patients with moderately severe mitral stenosis by using a retrograde transventricular arterial approach. This technique is less costly and less time consuming as compared with the transseptal technique. It avoids the creation of an atrial septal defect, which can result in significant left to right shunt that can make interpretation of haemodynamic data difficult. The major drawback with this technique is the size of the balloon catheters in current use, which can make their introduction into the brachial artery difficult. This paper discusses technical aspects of retrograde crossing of the mitral valve.