Balloon procedure safe for mitral stenosis in pregnancy

Percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty is safe for pregnant women with congestive heart failure due to rheumatic mitral stenosis and has a low morbidity and mortality risk for their infants.

Cesar A. Esteves, MD, PhD, of the Institute Dante Pazzanese of Cardiology, in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and colleagues studied the procedure in 71 pregnant women with severe rheumatic mitral stenosis and congestive heart failure.

The researchers found the procedure worked well in all cases, causing the mitral valve area to expand from 0.9 to 2 cm² . Ninety-eight percent of patients reached normal or near-normal heart function by delivery.

"Percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty is safe and effective, has a low morbidity and mortality rate for the mother and the fetus, and has favorable long-term results in pregnant women with rheumatic mitral stenosis in New York Heart Association functional class III or IV," the authors wrote.

Esteves CA, Munoz JS, Braga S, et al. Immediate and long-term follow-up of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty in pregnant patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Am J Cardiol. 2006;98:812-816.