Abstract

Percutaneous trans-mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) using an Accura balloon is an effective procedure for the mana- gement of patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. It is not infrequent to encounter an aneurysmal left atrium (LA), especially in the developing world where patients often present very late. This is a technically challenging procedure as the septum often bulges into the right atrial side, making the puncture often difficult. Furthermore, it bulges anteriorly and inferiorly so it becomes even more challenging. Because of the vertical lie of the septum, the needle often dissects the septum rather than puncturing it. Here, we describe the case of a 17 year-old boy with severe mitral stenosis with a giant, aneurysmal left atrium (LA — 13.5 × 16 cm) where an inter-atrial septal puncture was achieved by probing the fossa ovalis to enter the left atrium instead of a conventional transseptal puncture. PTMC was successfully done, increasing the mitral valve area from 0.8 cm2 to 1.9 cm2.

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