If a thrombus was detected, the patient was not a candidate for PMV. Transthoracic echocardiogram measurement of MVA and quantification of MR were repeated the day after PMV.
PMV was performed by a percutaneous transseptal anterograde approach and either the Babi c double-balloon technique (n ¼ 44 patients) or the Inoue balloon technique (n ¼ 488 patients), with conventional hemodynamic parameters monitored as previously described.14 Cardiac output (CO) was measured using the Fick or the thermodilution technique, and MVA was calculated using the Gorlin formula.