PERCUTANEOUS TRANSVENOUS MITRAL COMMISSUROTOMY IN PATIENTS WITH SEVERE KYPHOSCOLIOSIS

Because transseptal catheterization is felt to be contraindicated in patients with severe kyphoscoliosis, there have been no reports of percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy performed in such patients. This report describes percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy in three patients with severe thoracic kyphoscoliosis, with special emphasis on the transseptal puncture technique. Biplane right atrial angiography and the contrast septal flush method are very useful in landmark selection for a safe transseptal puncture. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.