Balloon mitral valvuloplasty via retrograde left atrial catheterization.

A technique for performing retrograde catheterization of the left atrium followed by double balloon mitral valvuloplasty without transseptal catheterization is described. Three patients have undergone double balloon mitral valvuloplasty by means of this technique, all with marked improvement in postdilatation mitral valve areas. The technique avoids iatrogenic atrial septal defects and is less difficult to perform than transseptal catheterization.