Comparative study on safety, efficacy, and midterm results of balloon mitral valvotomy performed with triple lumen and double lumen mitral valvotomy catheters

Balloon Mitral Valvotomy With the Accura Double-Lumen Balloon Catheter: Immediate and One-Year Clinical Outcomes

Objective

Despite the decline in the incidence of rheumatic heart disease in developed countries, the disease still remains endemic among individuals of low socioeconomic status. The aim of the study is to assess immediate and one-year outcomes of balloon mitral valvotomy using the double-lumen Accura balloon (Vascular Innovations Co., Nonthaburi, Thailand) in patients with mitral valve stenosis.

Methods

This was a single-centre, observational, investigator-initiated retrospective study. All consecutive patients undergoing balloon mitral valvotomy with the Accura balloon between January 2015 and June 2020 were included. The primary endpoint was procedural success defined as an increase in mitral valve area (MVA) ≥50% from basal valve area or final valve area of ≥1.5 cm², in the absence of mitral regurgitation grade >2. Clinical, echocardiographic, and haemodynamic parameters were assessed at the one-year follow-up.

Results

A total of 62 patients underwent balloon mitral valvotomy. The mean age was 34.9 ± 8.0 years, and 54 (87.1%) patients were female. Mean Wilkins' echo score was 7.5 ± 0.5. Procedural success was achieved in 59 (96.7%) patients. Mean MVA increased from 0.75 ± 0.14 cm² to 1.64 ± 0.21 cm², and mean mitral valve gradient decreased from 24.9 ± 5.5 mmHg to 7.30 ± 1.40 mmHg. Atrial fibrillation, mitral valve replacement, and moderate to severe mitral regurgitation occurred in 36 (59.0%), two (3.3%), and two (3.3%) patients, respectively. No death, cerebrovascular accidents, restenosis, or redo procedures occurred.

Conclusion

Balloon mitral valvotomy using the double-lumen Accura balloon is safe in patients with mitral valve stenosis.

Immediate and late clinical outcomes of balloon mitral valvotomy based on immediate postballoon mitral valvotomy mitral valve area & percentage gain in mitral valve area-A tertiary centre study

AIM

The aim of the study was to compare the immediate and late clinical outcomes of balloon mitral valvotomy (BMV), based on the immediate post-BMV valve area and percentage gain in mitral valve area (MVA).

METHODS

Clinical data of 818 consecutive patients who underwent BMV in our institute from 2000 to 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. They were categorized into three groups based on the postprocedural MVA and percentage gain in valve area-(1) 50% gain with final MVA <1.5 cm², group 1 (fair result); (2) final MVA of ≥1.5 cm², group 2 (good result); and (3) <50% gain with final MVA <1.5 cm², group 3 (suboptimal result).

RESULTS

The baseline characteristics of the three patient groups were clearly distinct. Those who had <50% gain with final MVA <1.5 cm² were older and had higher incidence of atrial fibrillation (17 [22.4%]), heart failure (32 [42.1%]), pulmonary artery hypertension (45 [59.2%]), and significantly deformed valves (39 [51.3%]) at baseline. At a mean follow-up period of 5.64 ± 3.84 years, incidence of redo BMV (23 [4.6%]) and mitral valve replacement (17 [3.4%]) was higher in them than those with immediate MVA ≥1.5 cm². Among those with MVA <1.5 cm², events on follow-up were similar irrespective of the percentage gain in MVA.

CONCLUSIONS

Immediate postprocedural MVA of ≥1.5 cm², and not percentage gain, predicts better long-term clinical outcomes after BMV. Patients who had less than 50% gain with final MVA <1.5 cm² represent high-risk population with advanced mitral valve disease and comorbidities.

Ladarixin, a dual CXCR1/2 inhibitor, attenuates experimental melanomas harboring different molecular defects by affecting malignant cells and tumor microenvironment

CXCR1 and CXCR2 chemokine receptors and their ligands (CXCL1/2/3/7/8) play an important role in tumor progression. Tested to date CXCR1/2 antagonists and chemokine-targeted antibodies were reported to affect malignant cells in vitro and in animal models. Yet, redundancy of chemotactic signals and toxicity hinder further clinical development of these approaches. In this pre-clinical study we investigated the capacity of a novel small molecule dual CXCR1/2 inhibitor, Ladarixin (LDX), to attenuate progression of experimental human melanomas. Our data showed that LDX-mediated inhibition of CXCR1/2 abrogated motility and induced apoptosis in cultured cutaneous and uveal melanoma cells and xenografts independently of the molecular defects associated with the malignant phenotype. These effects were mediated by the inhibition of AKT and NF-kB signaling pathways. Moreover, systemic treatment of melanoma-bearing mice with LDX also polarized intratumoral macrophages to M1 phenotype, abrogated intratumoral de novo angiogenesis and inhibited melanoma self-renewal. Collectively, these studies outlined the pre-requisites of the successful CXCR1/2 inhibition on malignant cells and demonstrated multifactorial effects of Ladarixin on cutaneous and uveal melanomas, suggesting therapeutic utility of LDX in treatment of various melanoma types.

An unusual percutaneous transmitral commissurotomy: A collection of four rare occurrences!

We are presenting an interesting case of a 30-year-old patient taken for percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) for severe rheumatic mitral stenosis in which there was a collection of four unusual occurrences during the course of a procedure. She had recurrent generalized tonic-clonic seizures immediately after femoral sheath insertion requiring the patient to be mechanically ventilated. Subsequently, the pressure tracings recorded with catheters in the aorta and the pulmonary artery showed transient unusually high supra-systemic pulmonary artery pressure. During inflation the Accura PTMC balloon which was used to dilate the mitral valve ruptured and the procedure subsequently had to be completed using another balloon catheter. During the procedure the presence of a distended stomach due to insufflations of air during positive pressure ventilation which subsided subsequently was another unusual documentation on fluoroscopy. The final outcome of the procedure was successful. This case presents an interesting collection of unusual occurrences during a PTMC procedure which started on an unusual note but ended on a successful one. Careful assessment and appropriate management of complications can lead to successful outcome of procedures as in our case.

Accura balloon rupture during percutaneous trans-septal mitral commissurotomy: a rare and potentially fatal complication

Percutaneous transseptal mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) is the treatment of choice in rheumatic mitral stenosis. The reuse of sterilised PTMC balloon catheters is widely practised to bring down the procedure cost and have proven safety and efficacy. The reused balloons may deform and are prone to rupture causing fatal complications like embolism either of the torn balloon material or air. We report a first case of Accura balloon rupture during PTMC to the best of our knowledge. Fortunately, there was no complication in our patient. Thus, during the balloon preparation it should be examined for any deformity or tear and air should be removed completely to prevent fatal outcome. The repeated use of the hardware should be limited and an informed consent regarding the possible complications of the reused hardware should be taken.