Maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women undergoing balloon mitral valvotomy for rheumatic mitral stenosis

BACKGROUND: Rheumatic mitral stenosis constitutes a major cause of acquired heart disease complicating pregnancy in India. In the present study, we have studied the fetal and maternal outcomes of women undergoing balloon mitral valvotomy during pregnancy. METHODS AND RESULTS: 49 pregnant ladies were included in this study in whom balloon mitral valvotomy was performed. The mean age of these patients was 25.7 ± 3.1 years. The mean gestational age was 23.5 ± 5.2 weeks (12–36 weeks). The procedure was successful in 48 patients (95.9%). Mean two-dimensional MVA increased from baseline value of 0.93 ± 0.17 cm(2) to 1.75 ± 0.27 cm(2) (p value <0.0001). Pre-procedure peak pulmonary artery pressure was 43.05 ± 15.88 mmHg, which decreased to 22.31 ± 6.36 mmHg (p value <0.0001). Hemodynamic data showed pre-BMV left atrial mean pressure of 29.6 ± 6.6 mmHg, which decreased to 13.7 ± 4.8 mmHg after the procedure (p value <0.0001). Mean fluoroscopy time was 6.4 ± 1.2 min. There was no maternal mortality in our study. One procedure had to be abandoned, because of failed septal puncture. One of the patients developed cardiac tamponade and another patient developed severe mitral regurgitation, which were managed medically. The patient who developed severe mitral regurgitation later underwent mitral valve replacement. Post-procedure follow-up showed an improvement in NYHA status by at least one class in 81.3% of patients. Thirty-nine (81.3%) patients had a term normal vaginal delivery and 8 (16.7%) underwent cesarean section for obstetric indications. One of the patients had abortion on the second day of the procedure. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous mitral valvotomy during pregnancy is safe and provides excellent symptomatic relief and hemodynamic improvement. This should be considered as the treatment of choice when managing pregnant women with severe mitral stenosis.