Percutaneous Transvenous Balloon Mitral Commissurotomy: A Single-Center Experience

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Valvular Heart Disease

Background:

• Rheumatic heart disease remains a significant concern, particularly in developing nations.
• Severe mitral stenosis (MS) necessitates effective management strategies.
• Percutaneous trans-mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) is the established treatment for severe rheumatic MS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a 10-year real-world experience with PTMC in Qatar.
• To evaluate the procedural success and safety of PTMC for rheumatic MS.
• To assess long-term outcomes following PTMC in a single-center cohort.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of patients undergoing PTMC between 2012 and 2022.
• Collection of periprocedural and follow-up data (baseline, post-procedure, 1 year, last follow-up).
• Primary outcome: procedural success (defined by valve area and absence of complications); Safety endpoints: freedom from major adverse events; Long-term outcomes: need for reintervention or rehospitalization.

Main Results:

• Sixty-five patients (mean age 42 ± 10, 58.5% female) were included.
• Procedural success rate was high at 95.4% (62 patients).
• Adverse events included one case of tamponade with cardiogenic shock, one stroke, and two patients requiring mitral valve replacement (MVR) within 1-4 years.

Conclusions:

• PTMC is a primary treatment for rheumatic MS in anatomically suitable patients.
• The procedure demonstrates excellent outcomes and long-term avoidance of surgery.
• This single-center experience in Qatar supports the efficacy and durability of PTMC.