Reintervention after percutaneous mitral balloon commissurotomy in patients with rheumatic heart disease: feasibility of surgical mitral valve repair

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Key findings

• Mitral valve repair remains a feasible option for appropriately selected rheumatic heart disease (RHD) patients requiring reintervention after prior percutaneous mitral balloon commissurotomy (PMBC).

What is known and what is new?

• The effectiveness and safety of mitral valve repair for RHD have been well established. However, it remains unclear whether mitral valve repair is feasible after PMBC.

• Based on our findings, mitral valve repair remains feasible after PMBC, with good early outcomes and long-term durability.

What is the implication, and what should change now?

• For patients with RHD who require reintervention after PMBC, careful preoperative evaluation should be conducted. If valve repair is feasible, mitral valve repair should be prioritized over replacement, as it may provide better long-term prognosis for the patients.

Publication: Li X, Zhu Y, Liang J, Jiang W, Han J, Liu Y, Zhang H. Reintervention after percutaneous mitral balloon commissurotomy in patients with rheumatic heart disease: feasibility of surgical mitral valve repair. J Thorac Dis 2025;17(2):593-602. doi: 10.21037/jtd-24-1485