Abstract
BACKGROUND: Rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in India. Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) has become the procedure of choice for severe MS with pliable leaflets. Despite a wealth of literature on the technical aspects of PTMC, there is a dearth of literature addressing the impact of PTMC on the quality of life (QOL). AIM: The aim of the study is to assess the impact of PTMC on clinical status and QOL of patients with severe MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five consecutive patients with severe MS undergoing PTMC were included in the study with their informed consent. All patients were subjected to routine blood tests, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, two-dimensional and color echocardiography, treadmill test (TMT), and World Health Organization (WHO) QOL scale. The echocardiography, TMT, and WHOQOL scale were repeated after the procedure. RESULTS: The procedural success was 98%. The mean (range) mitral valve area preprocedure was 0.82 (0.59-0.92) cm(2) and postprocedure was 1.61 (1.51-1.76) cm(2). The difference was statistically significant (t = 5.02; P < 0.01). The mean (range) of TMT preprocedure was 4.05 (3.0-7.0) METS and postprocedure was 8.52 (6-12) METS. The difference was statistically significant (T = 3.08; P < 0.01). The mean (range) of QOL assessment pre- and post-procedure on physical domain was 8.83 (8.3-10.1) which increased to 11.11 (10-12.7); on social relationship domain from 9.17 (7.5-12.4) to 11.37 (9.4-12.0); on personal relationship from 11.6 (11-13) to 12.52 (12-13); on environment domain from 10.78 (10.2-11.7) to 11.56 (10.8-12); and on level of independence from 9.02 (8-10) to 12.29 (11.0-13.6). All the differences were statistically significant (Wilcoxon signed-rank test z = -4.376; -4.379; -4.234; -4.200; -4.375; respectively, all P < 0.001 highly significant). CONCLUSIONS: PTMC resulted in a significant improvement in the QOL of patients with severe MS. The significant improvement in QOL post-PTMC may be an indication for offering PTMC at an earlier stage to those patients whose QOL is severely compromised.