Percutaneous transseptal balloon mitral valvuloplasty: the Chinese experience in 30 patients.

The results of percutaneous transseptal balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PTBMV) in 30 Chinese patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis are reported. PTBMV with the Inoue balloon catheter was successfully performed in 27 patients without any significant complications. The mean left atrial pressure decreased from 20.15 +/- 6.75 to 7.06 +/- 4.54 mm Hg (p less than 0.001); mitral valve gradient decreased from 16.86 +/- 6.37 to 2.68 +/- 2.96 mm Hg (p less than 0.001); pulmonary systolic pressure decreased from 48.38 +/- 17.57 to 30.04 +/- 11.49 mm Hg (p less than 0.001); mitral valve area increased from 1.27 +/- 0.31 to 2.13 +/- 0.43 cm2 (p less than 0.001). Results of follow-up examinations at 8 to 20 months showed that both subjective and objective improvement was well maintained. PTBMV is a highly effective and safe nonsurgical method of relieving mitral stenosis.