Rheumatic mitral stenosis in some parts of the world afflicts even young children. Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) using Inoue balloon in these children is not well reported. Forty-five children (aged 7-12 years, mean 11.0 ุ 1.2 years) with severe rheumatic mitral stenosis (mitral valve area [MVA] 0.64 ุ 0.14 cm 2 ) underwent PTMC. The pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAW) decreased from 24.3 ุ 8.6 to 14.7 ุ 7.2 mmHg (P F 0.0001) and mean diastolic gradient decreased from 24.3 ุ 7.7 to 7.9 ุ 5.9 mmHg with the final MVA of 1.63 ุ 0.45 cm 2 (P F 0.0001). Complications included significant mitral regurgitation (MR) in three children and atrial shunting in two patients. No procedural death, systemic embolism, and cardiac tamponade were encountered. Twenty-four children had maximum balloon size (MBS) same as recommended balloon size (RBS) derived according to the height (group I) and 21 children had MBS 1-3 mm less than RBS (group II). Despite the lesser maximum balloon size, the final results were comparable in both groups (MVA group 1.66 ุ 0.44 vs. group II 1.61 ุ 0.48 P โซุโฌ NS). The incidence of significant MR (2 and 1 in group I and group II, respectively) was similar. On follow-up of 20.4 ุ 16.3 months (range 3-56 months), one child developed restenosis.
We conclude that PTMC is safe and effective in children less than 12 years of age. However, the smaller balloon size than the RBS derived from height may be equally effective and possibly safer.