Long-term follow-up of cardiac rhythm after percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy.

Aims Little information is available about short-term and none about long-term follow-up of cardiac rhythm after percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy (PTMV). Methods and Results We studied the long-term course of the supraventricular rhythm in 137 consecutive patients with severe mitral stenosis, who underwent PTMV. The rhythm before PTMV was sinus rhythm (SR) in 55% and chronic AF in 45% of patients. The mean follow-up time was 3·7±2·5 years (n=126). Conclusion Pre-procedural SR will persist following PTMV. However in patients with chronic AF PTMV is not associated with reversion to SR, suggesting that measures should be undertaken to restore sinus rhythm. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]