Since the nonsurgical treatment of mitral stenosis using a single balloon has been introduced by Inoue et al. in 1984. percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty has became an accepted therapeutic modality for selected patients with mitral stenosis. Zeibag et al. demonstrated the double balloon technique showed a better outcome than the single balloon in obtainning the optimal mitral valve area. On the other hand, there are several reports that single balloon technique was comparable with the double balloon technique. Therefore, there are still controversies in efficacy, benefit and complications between balloon techniques.

To compare the efficacy and complications of percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty with the double balloon or the Inoue balloon technique, 40 patients were studied consecutively by random method in selecting the balloon technique.

In all cases, percutaneous mitral valvulopasty was performed successfully. Optimal outcome defined as mitral valve area larger than 1.5cm² was obtained in 12 cases out of 16(75%) in double balloon group and 15 out of 24(63%) in Inoue balloon group(p=NS). Mitral valve area was significantly increased after valvulopasty in both technique but there was no different between both groups(Mean±SD ; 0.9±0.3 to 1.7±0.2 vs 0.9±0.2 to 1.9±0.2cm²). There were also hemodynamic improvement significantly in mean mitral gradient(MG). pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and left atrial pressure(LAP) after PMV but there were no difference between groups (18±8 to 7±2 vs 21±13 to 9±4 mmHg for MG. 29±12 to 22±9 vs 28±9 to 18±5mmHg for PAP and 22±8 to 11±5 vs 21±6 to 11±4 for LAP respectively). Mitral requrgitation greater than grade 2 occurred in 2 cases of the double balloon group and one case of the Inoue balloon group(p=NS). New development of atrial shunt was found in 3 cases in both groups.

The double and Inoue balloon techniques were quite comparable in immediate outcome and complications.