Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty of a stenosed mitral bioprosthesis.

A 62-year-old woman with disabling mitral prosthetic stenosis underwent percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. The transvalvular gradient preoperatively was 22 mm Hg and was reduced to 6 mm Hg after the valvuloplasty. the valve area was increased from an initial value of 0.77 cm2 to 1.53 cm2. No complications occurred related to the Further studies are necessary to ascertain the indications and long-term results of percutaneous valvuloplasty on bioprosthesis in the mitral position.