Balloon mitral valvuloplasty with bifoil catheter: Immediate and long-term follow-up results

This report documents clinical and hemodynamic benefits of balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV) using a bifoil balloon catheter from a single center in 415 consecutive cases of rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS). The procedure was successful in 396 (95.2%) patients, with an increase in mitral valve area (MVA) from 0.82 +/- 0.35 cm(2) to 2.21 +/- 0.24 cm(2) (P < 0.001). There were 2 (0.48%) in-hospital deaths, and 6 (1.44%) patients developed acute mitral regurgitation. The procedural and fluroscopy time was reduced significantly from 52 +/- 11 and 38 +/- 6 min to 33 +/- 7 and 19 +/- 5 min, respectively, after modifications of technique in our last 326 cases. The bifoil balloon catheter technique is safe and effective, and provides excellent hemodynamic benefits which are sustained at long-term follow-up. This technique should be considered as an addition to the existing armamentarium of interventional cardiologists performing mitral balloon valvuloplasty. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.