Prosthetic mitral valve leaflets jammed by a balloon catheter.

We encountered a case in which prosthetic mitral valve leaflets were jammed by a transmitral balloon catheter during mechanical mitral valve replacement. The catheter, which was inserted in the left ventricle to render the leaflets incompetent during de-airing, forced the leaflets into the closed position. The leaflet edges pinched the catheter lumen and obstructed balloon deflation. Excessive inflation of the balloon and extraction of the catheter before complete deflation of the balloon should be avoided to prevent a potentially serious complication.