Worsening of left ventricular twist mechanics in isolated rheumatic mitral stenosis immediately after balloon mitral valvuloplasty

Abstract Background Reportedly, left ventricular (LV) mechanics are worsened in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) compared to controls. The immediate effect of balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV) on LV mechanics is, however, not known. Aim To assess the immediate effect of balloon mitral valvuloplasty on the left ventricular twist mechanics. Methods and results We studied 39 candidates for BMV. Pressures were measured invasively before and after BMV. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) was done for twist mechanics (basal rotation, apical rotation, and torsion) before and immediately after BMV. Twist mechanics were also measured by STE in 15 normal subjects as control group. Mean age was 30.4 ± 7.2 years, mean BMI was 24.7 ± 3.1 and 28 patients (72%) were females. All twist mechanics apical rotation and torsion were lower post-BMV compared to pre-BMV. Left ventricular end diastolic pressure was significantly higher post compared to pre-BMV while left atrial pressure (LAP) was similar between both groups. Importantly, patients who showed an increased LVEDP post compared to pre-BMV had worse LV twist mechanics than those whose LVEDP post-BMV was similar to or lower than pre-BMV. Conclusion LV twist mechanics are worsened in MS with a further worsening, immediately after BMV probably because of failure of the LV to adapt to the sudden increased preload.