[Immediate results of repeat percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty]. / Résultats immédiats de la redilatation mitrale percutanée.

Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (PMV) has emerged as the procedure of choice in treatment of mitral stenosis and has proved effectiveness in cases of mitral restenosis after surgical commissurotomy. However, this technique is costly, is not devoid of complication and success is not guaranteed. Indications of an attempted redo percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty (redo-PMV) are not well established. Hence the idea to study the immediate results of (re-PMV). PURPOSE OF WORK: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the immediate results of the re-PMV in patients with mitral restenosis and analyze the different clinical and laboratory findings to determine predictors of success of re-PMV to better selection of candidates for a new attempt PMV. METHODS: Retrospective study from a series of 40 procedures of re-PMV with the Inoue balloon succeeding a successful initial procedure, collected in the cardiology department of Habib Thameur hospital of Tunis between 1996 and 2011, in which we identified the data of clinical and paraclinical examinations. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 43 ± 11 years [23; 63]. Of the population, 87.5% were female (five men and 35 women). The average time between the two procedures was 8 ± 4 years [1; 15]. The immediate procedural success defined by a mitral valve area greater or equal to 1.5 cm(2) and a grade less than or equal to 2 mitral regurgitation was obtained in 31 patients (77.5%). A severe mitral regurgitation (MR) was observed in three patients (7.5%). A cerebrovascular stroke occurred in one patient (2.5%). No death or cardiac tamponade were noted. Class III or IV of NYHA, a pre-procedural MR, pulmonary hypertension and an overall score of Padial greater than 10 were retained as predictors of failure. More the overall score of Wilkins is high (>8), more it is predictive of failure. The two components of the Wilkins score: valvular mobility and subvalvular apparatus (SVA) and the parameter of the redesign of the SVA score of Padial considered separately are also predictive of failure. Only a left atrial area less than or equal to 25 cm(2) was linked to high risk of severe MR. CONCLUSION: Redo percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty is a therapeutic alternative to surgery that is effective and promising interesting immediate results. Analysis of clinical and mainly echographic parameters is useful for predicting the success of the gesture, which will allow a better selection of candidates for re-PMV.

[Management of cardiac arrhythmias during pregnancy]. / La prise en charge thérapeutique des troubles du rythme cardiaque au cours de la grossesse.

INTRODUCTION: Pregnancy can precipitate or exacerbate cardiac arrhythmias. Management of those arrhythmias is not very different from that in non-pregnant women. OBJECTIVE: In this review we tried to specify factors which favour arrhythmias in pregnant women and to show their specific management. METHODS: We carried out a search through PubMed using as keywords: pregnancy, cardiac arrhythmias, antiarrhythmics. RESULTS: Hemodynamic perturbations, direct electrophysiological effects of hormones and underlying heart disease are potential factors that can promote arrhythmias in pregnancy. Usually, no drug therapy is needed for the management of supraventricular or ventricular premature beats but potential promoting factors should be eliminated. In paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, vagal maneuvers should be tried firstly. Adenosine could be used if vagal maneuvers are ineffective. In pregnant women with atrial fibrillation, the goal of treatment is the conversion to sinus rhythm or the control of ventricular rate. Ventricular arrhythmias are usually uncommon during pregnancy and often occur in the absence of structural heart disease and are responsive to drug therapy. Symptomatic bradycardia rarely complicates pregnancy and its management does not differ from that in non-pregnant women.