Closed surgical mitral valvotomy is the procedure of choice in most patients with symptomatic pliable mitral stenosis in developing countries. The procedure is efficacious and safe. Mitral valvotomy performed with a balloon has shown similar good results, with infrequent complications in selected subjects. Because there is a paucity of studies comparing the two techniques, this study was undertaken to compare the results of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty with those of closed commissurotomy as determined by catheterization studies. Forty-five patients with tight pliable mitral stenosis were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 23 patients had balloon valvuloplasty by the single catheter technique (group I) and 22 underwent closed surgical valvotomy (group II). The two groups were similar with regard to clinical and hemodynamic findings before intervention. Mitral valve area increased from 0.8 +/- 0.3 to 2.1 +/- 0.7 cm2 in group I (p less than 0.001) and from 0.7 +/- 0.2 to 1.3 +/- 0.3 cm2 in group II (p less than 0.001). Pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance decreased in both groups, but these changes did not reach statistical significance in group II. Treadmill exercise time increased from 3.8 +/- 2.3 to 7.3 +/- 2.6 min in group I (p less than 0.001) and from 4 +/- 2.6 to 5.6 +/- 2.6 min in group II (p less than 0.001). There were no deaths. One patient in each group developed moderate (3+) mitral regurgitation. A small interatrial shunt (less than 1.5:1) was detected in three patients in group I immediately after the procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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The efficacy of balloon dilatation of the mitral valve by a bifoil (2 x 19 mm) or trefoil (3 x 15 mm) catheter (single catheter technique) was assessed in 53 patients (mean age 28) with mitral stenosis, most of whom were women. The procedure was unsuccessful in three patients. After balloon dilatation the left atrial pressure decreased from 22 mm Hg to 13 mm Hg and the mitral valve gradient from 12 mm Hg to 4 mm Hg. The mitral valve area increased from 0.7 cm2 to 2.1 cm2. Exercise time on the standard Bruce protocol increased from 3.9 minutes to 7.2 minutes. In 22 (44%) patients mitral regurgitation developed or the grade of regurgitation increased. Left to right shunts with pulmonary to systemic flow ratios greater than 1:5 were detected in four patients. Transient cerebrovascular episodes developed in two patients. One patient died after emergency valve replacement for severe mitral regurgitation. Balloon dilatation of the mitral valve by the single catheter technique with the bifoil or trefoil catheters is an effective treatment for patients with mitral stenosis. Mild mitral regurgitation is a frequent complication of the procedure.

Beta-blocker therapy in tight mitral stenosis appears to have no beneficial effect on aerobic capacity, nor does it improve ventilatory performance. Adequate beta-blockade may adversely effect peak oxygen consumption.

Fenoldopam, a selective DA1-receptor agonist, infused intravenously for 24 hours (0.6 +/- 0.3 microgram/kg/min, range 0.1-1.5) in 25 patients with NYHA functional class III or IV heart failure, produced a prompt and sustained hemodynamic response. Cardiac index rose from an average preinfusion baseline value of 1.8 to 2.6/l min. Stroke volume index increased from 19 to 26 ml/m2 and stroke work index increased from 18 to 25 g M/m2. These changes were accompanied by a reduction in systemic vascular resistance from an average of 2400 to 1500 dynes sec/cm5. There was no change in the heart rate or right atrial pressure. There was a transient reduction in the left ventricular filling pressure from 25 to 20 mmHg. Urinary sodium excretion did not change significantly. Transient asymptomatic thrombocytopenia developed in four patients. The drug was well tolerated by all patients. These results suggest that continuous intravenous infusion of fenoldopam is safe and produces favorable hemodynamic responses in severe heart failure. However, unlike its effects in patients with hypertension, it failed to produce sustained natriuresis in these patients.

Percutaneous balloon dilatation of the mitral valve can be performed as a life saving procedure in critically ill patients with mitral stenosis, as even a modest increase in valve area in these patients produces gratifying clinical improvement.

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Results of percutaneous mitral valvotomy were compared in two groups undergoing the procedure at our institution. Group I: 100 patients having had percutaneous valvotomy with the Schneider-Medintag bifoil (2 x 19 mm) or trefoil (3 x 15 mm or 3 x 12 mm) catheters, and group II; 150 patients in whom the procedure was performed with the Inoue balloon (24-30 mm). Baseline clinical (age, gender, NYHA class and echo score) and haemodynamic variables were similar in both groups. Haemodynamic improvement occurred in both groups. Although the reduction in left atrial pressure did not differ significantly between the two groups, the increase in mitral valve area was significantly (P < 0.001) higher for group I (0.8 +/- 0.2 to 1.9 +/- 0.7 and 0.8 +/- 0.3 to 1.6 +/- 0.3 cm2 respectively for mitral area, and 22 +/- 6 to 13 +/- 5 and 21 +/- 6 to 13 +/- 5 mmHg respectively for mean left atrial pressure). The increase in cardiac output was statistically significant in group I (3.2 +/- 0.7 to 4.0 +/- 0.9 l.min-1, P < 0.05) but not in group II (3.5 +/- 2.0 to 3.7 +/- 0.9 l.min-1, ns). Inter-atrial shunting immediately after valvotomy was recorded in 19% of group I patients compared with 6% in group II (P < 0.001). The overall incidence of significant mitral regurgitation (3+ or 4+) was similar in both groups (5% and 4% respectively). However, when the stepwise dilatation technique was employed in group II, the incidence had dropped to 2.1%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)