To compare early and 12 months results of mitral stenosis (MS) correction by percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty (PMBV) using Inoue's single-balloon or double balloon techniques.We submitted 139 consecutive patients to PMBV using Inoue single-balloon (n = 56, GI) or the double balloon technique (n = 83, GII). The two groups were similar, in: age, sex, functional class (FC), echocardiographic (ECHO) score, mitral valve area (MVA), and gradient (G) or presence of regurgitation. Clinical and ECHO data were compared before (PRE), immediately after (POI) and one year following the procedure (PO12M).PMBV was successfully performed in 53 (95%) patients of GI and in 79 (96%) of GII. Statistical analyses showed that the groups were similar at POI but different at PO12M (p0.002). ECHO immediately after PMBV showed that: MVA increased from 0.99 +/- 0.23 to 2.01 +/- 0.44cm2 (p0.001) in GI and from 0.94 +/- 0.23 to 2.09 +/- 0.35cm2 (p0.001) in GII and G decreased from 11.58 +/- 5.02 to 5.16 +/- 2.23mmHg (p0.001) in GI and from 12.48 +/- 4.89 to 5.96 +/- 3.21mmHg (p0.001) in GII. After one year 36 (64%) patients in GI and 62 (74%) in GII underwent an ECHO study. A comparison between immediate and one year follow-up results showed that MVA decreased from 2.01 +/- 0.4 to 2.00 +/- 0.3cm2 (NS) in GI and from 2.09 +/- 0.3 to 1.74 +/- 0.4cm2 (p0.001) in GII and G decreased from 5.16 +/- 2.2 to 5.50 +/- 2.9mmHg (NS) in GI and from 5.96 +/- 3.2 to 8.61 +/- 4.8mmHg (p0.001) in GII. There was therefore a sustained improvement of MVA and G after one year in GI and a significant decrease in MVA and G in GII. The FC after one year was similar and satisfactory in both groups.Both techniques are equally effective in relieving MS immediately after PMBV, but after one year, despite similar FC, Inoue-balloon technique seems to be superior to maintain MVA and G.
