Mitral valve repair is mainly used to treat stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leakage) of the mitral valve.[citation needed] A mitral balloon valvuloplasty enlarges the valve opening to allow greater oxygenated blood flow into the left ventricle, and since severe mitral regurgitation can be a major complication, degrees of stenosis, regurgitation, and valve anatomical features are taken into consideration before the procedure.[1]
The first two percutaneous ultrasound-guided fetal balloon valvuloplasties, a type of in utero surgery for severe aortic valve obstruction, were reported in 1991.[4]
^Kohl, T.; Sharland, G.; Allan, L. D.; Gembruch, U.; Chaoui, R.; Lopes, L. M.; Zielinsky, P.; Huhta, J.; Silverman, N. H. (2000-05-15). "World experience of percutaneous ultrasound-guided balloon valvuloplasty in human fetuses with severe aortic valve obstruction". The American Journal of Cardiology. 85 (10): 1230–1233. doi:10.1016/s0002-9149(00)00733-5. ISSN0002-9149. PMID10802006.