VERSATILITY OF INOUE BALLOON CATHETER

Inoue rubber nylon single balloon catheter is being used worldwide for performing balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV). The popularity of Inou e balloon is attributed to its self-positioning configuration, size-ad justability, rapid inflation-deflation sequence and the ease of perfor mance. We report its use in performing various non-mitral intervention s. Its utility in treating patients with mitral stenosis and combined mitral and tricuspid stenosis is well established. Seventeen patients with valvular pulmonic stenosis (age 32+/-16 years; 11 males and 6 fem ales) achieved significant reduction of peak systolic gradient (PSG) f rom 125+/-28 to 32+/-16 mmHg (P<0.005). Four patients with inferior ve na-cava obstruction (age 20-48 years; 3 males and 1 female) derived sy mptomatic benefit following successful dilatation. Inoue balloon was u sed to create percutaneous pericardial window in four cases (age 43-68 years; 2 males and 2 females) of recurrent pericardial collection sec ondary to carcinoma lung/breast, thus alleviating the symptoms of tamp onade. One patient each with coarctation of aorta (32 years, male), di screte subaortic membrane (16 years, female), and critical valvular ao rtic stenosis (13 years, male) derived immediate hemodynamic improveme nt with Inoue balloon dilatation. No major complications were encounte red. We conclude that Inoue balloon can be used to successfully manage various stenotic lesions. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.