Role of transesophageal echocardiography in percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty.

Echocardiography is useful in the selection of patients for percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty, which is an effective treatment in suitable patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Transesophageal echocardiography appears superior to precordial echocardiography in this role because transesophageal echocardiography is not only reliable in the assessment of mitral valvular morphology but also more sensitive in the detection of left atrial thrombi and mitral regurgitation. Transesophageal echocardiography can be used in guiding the proper positioning of the catheters during the dilatation procedure. Complications of balloon mitral valvuloplasty such as torn mitral leaflets or atrial septal defects can also be diagnosed reliably by transesophageal echocardiography. Thus, transesophageal echocardiography should be an integral part of balloon mitral valvuloplasty.