USE OF BIPLANE TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY AS THE ONLY IMAGING TECHNIQUE FOR PERCUTANEOUS BALLOON MITRAL COMMISSUROTOMY

Percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy with the Inoue technique wa s attempted in 9 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis under the sol e guidance of biplane transesophageal echocardiography and was complet ed in 8 patients. This preliminary experience points to the feasibilit y and relative safety of performing percutaneous balloon mitral commis surotomy under the sole guidance of biplane transesophageal echocardio graphy.