Percutaneous closure of a left ventricular perforation post balloon mitralvalvotomy

The risk of left ventricular perforation is a rare but well-recognized comp lication of percutaneous double balloon mitral valvuloplasty that usually r equires surgical bailout. We describe a case of left ventricular perforatio n with cardiac tamponade, caused by the propulsion of the balloons during b alloon mitral valvotomy on an 86-year-old female with previous thoracotomie s that was resolved using percutaneous coil embolization of the perforation . This approach to these types of complications, although unlikely to be of extensive use, will serve to expand the horizon of options in the field of interventions, (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.