A Comparative Outcome Analysis Of Echocardiographic Balloon Reference Sizing Versus Height Based Balloon Reference Sizing In Severe Mitral Stenosis Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty.

Rheumatic heart disease is no longer the most common cause of valvular heart disease in developed countries, but it is still affecting many areas of the world. Mitral stenosis is the most important long-term sequel of rheumatic fever and it has an unfavorable impact on the quality of life and survival of the patients involved.Gradual development of left heart obstruction gives rise to a variety of hemodynamic and structural changes that might be irreversible in patients with long-standing disease. Drug therapy neither cures nor modifies the course of the disease, but it is routinely employed to reduce symptoms and prevent thrombo-embolic complications, or as prophylaxis against recurrent rheumatic fever.1,2