Finger fracture mitral valvuloplasty: a tribute to the pioneers of cardiac surgery

Murala, John S; Wolfenden, Hugh D; Youssef, George S; Friedman, Daniel

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01066.x

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To the Editor: We report an exceptional case of a woman who underwent emergency “finger fracture valvuloplasty” (FFV) in 1954 to treat rheumatic mitral stenosis and required no further surgical intervention for 51 years.

1 Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW.
2 Department of Cardiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW.

Correspondence: hugh.wolfenden@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au

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4. Windsor HM. Mitral valvotomy — its evolution to the open operation. Med J Aust 1963; 1: 232-236.
5. Khan MN. The relief of mitral stenosis. An historic step in cardiac surgery. Tex Heart Inst J 1996; 23: 258-266.

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