Background: The Inoue balloon technique is the standard technique for mitral valve balloon commissurotomy at this stage. However, the hardware for this technique is expensive and may not always be available in resource-limited settings.
Objective: This article reports our experience with percutaneous transmitral balloon commissurotomy using a single balloon (Nucleus) with arteriovenous loop stabilisation.
Method: Eleven young patients, aged 12-26 years and weighing 23-48 kg, underwent transmitral balloon commissurotomy using the described technique at our centre from April to May 2014.
Results: Mean fluoroscopy time was 22.6 ± 6.4 min (18.5- 30.0). Mean transmitral gradient decreased from 24.1 ± 5.9 (16-35) to 6.6 ± 3.8 (3-14) mmHg, as measured on transoesophageal echocardiography. Mean mitral valve area increased from 0.69 ± 0.13 cm2 (range 0.5-0.9) before dilation to 1.44 ± 0.25 cm2 (1.1-1.9) after dilation (p < 0.001). Mean estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure decreased from 110.0 ± 35 mmHg (75-170) before dilation to 28.0 ± 14.4 mmHg (range 10-60) after dilation.
Conclusion: Our modified Nucleus balloon technique for mitral valve dilation in young patients with mitral stenosis is effective and safe. The technique differs from other over-the-wire techniques in that it avoids placing stiff wire in the left ventricle. It also offers better balloon stability and control owing to the arteriovenous loop. This technique may be easier for use by paediatric interventionists who might not be familiar with the Inoue balloon technique.