Percutaneous transluminal mitral commissurotomy--experience with inoue balloon and over the wire technique.

Objective: To compare the immediate and long-term results, safety and complication profile of inoue balloon technique (IBT) and over the wire technique (OWT) in the treatment of rheumatic mitral stenosis.

Methods: We have compared the IBT in 104 patients and OWT in 40 patients. Preprocedural, immediate post-procedure and follow-up echocardiograms of both groups of patients were done.

Valvuloplasty balloon detaching from the stem of a catheter.

A 12-year-old boy underwent pulmonary balloon valvotomy for isolated critical pulmonary stenosis. Following valvotomy, blood was found to be drawn into the syringe during deflation of the balloon, so a provisional diagnosis of a burst balloon was made. However, when the balloon catheter was withdrawn, the balloon got detached from the stem of the catheter at the level of the right atrium and was retained over the exchange guidewire.