Immediate and long-term effect of mitral balloon valvotomy on severe pulmonary hypertension in patients with mitral stenosis

Abstract The pulmonary vascular hemodynamics were studied in 21 patients with severe mitral stenosis and severe pulmonary hypertension. Hemodynamic data were obtained before and immediately after mitral balloon valvotomy (MBV) and at follow-up 7 to 14 months (mean 12 months) later by repeat catheterization. The mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCW) decreased from 27 ± 5 to 15 ± 4 mm Hg ( p p 2 ( p 2 ( p p −5 ( p = 0.02). At follow-up the MVA increased from 1.5 ± 0.3 to 1.7 ± 0.3 cm 2 ( p 2 ( p p −5 ( p