Mitral valve assessment and scoring before balloon mitral valvuloplasty

Abstract

Management of symptomatic rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) by nonsurgical techniques has been the therapeutic modality of choice in low- and middle-income countries such as India. In comparison to surgical interventions, catheter-based balloon dilatation has been preferred in cases of rheumatic MS. Various scoring systems, including three-dimensional (3D), 2D transthoracic, and transesophageal echo and fluoroscopy, have been summarized in this review for the evaluation of the morphology of the valve apparatus, including calcification, and subvalvular involvement for predicting favorable outcomes.