Balloon valvuloplasty

Balloon Valvuloplasty

Mitral Valvuloplasty

Top Balloon Valvuloplasty Cardiologist Bangalore | Dr. Ameet Oswal explains about a minimally-invasive procedure that helps to treat dysfunctional heart valves.

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Balloon Valvuloplasty

Overview

It is a non-surgical way of repairing your heart valves. Heart valves are responsible for smooth upward pressure and downward control of blood flow. There can be problems in the valves wherein the pumping of blood from your heart’s chamber is affected. It is an intravenous procedure that uses a ballon-guided catheter that is inserted from the vein of groin area.

What Can Indicate I Need Balloon Valvuloplasty?

Balloon valvuloplasty is used to treat the valve that causes hindrance in the left ventricle. The left ventricle is the heart’s main pumping chamber. This condition is called Mitral Stenosis, and it progresses slowly over time (over decades) due to infection to the valve caused at early age which is known as Rheumatic heart disease. If symptoms do develop, they may include: 

  • Shortness of breath
  • Swollen ankles and feet
  • Fatigue
  • Palpitations
  • Fainting or dizziness
  • Rheumatic fever (Soreness of throat)
  • Blood in cough

If any of these symptoms arise, your cardiologist may suggest Balloon Valvuloplasty.

Balloon Valvuloplasty FAQs

It is majorly used to treat Mitral Stenosis, in which your main valve which controls blood flow in the left side of the heart is affected. The valve in the heart narrows in the area and    may cease to work properly and that can prove detrimental if not treated effectively. The doctor may diagnose the following condition by identifying:

  • Heart murmur
  • Arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat)
  • Fluid deposit in lungs

This non-surgical procedure in which you will firstly receive local anesthesia or conscious sedation during your mitral valvuloplasty (BMV/ PTMC). The cardiologist will monitor your vital signs during the procedure. It proceeds as follows:

  • Incision made on a cleaned groin area
  • Insert a catheter with a balloon tip into blood vessel and advance it to your heart.
  • Use X-ray and echocardiographic imaging to precisely position the balloon in your narrowed mitral valve.
  • Carefully inflate the balloon, which expands the opening of the valve.
  • Steadily deflate the balloon and remove the catheter with the balloon.

Mitral stenosis is the constricting/ narrowing of the mitral valve, which controls the blood flow from the heart’s left atrium to the left ventricle. The left ventricle is your heart’s main pumping chamber. When your mitral valve is dysfunctional, blood and pressure build up, the left atrium enlarges, and fluid enters the lungs. The most common cause of mitral stenosis is rheumatic fever — a complication of sore throat. This infection can adversely affect the mitral valve, causing it to narrow

The different types of stenosis’ are as follows:

  • Mitral Stenosis

Narrowing of the mitral valve (controls the flow of blood from the heart’s left atrium to the left ventricle)

  • Pulmonary Stenosis

Narrowing of the pulmonary valve (controls the flow of blood from the heart’s right ventricle into the pulmonary artery)

  • Aortic Stenosis

Narrowing of aortic valve (controls blood flowing from your left ventricle to the aorta-the main artery bringing blood from the heart to the body)

This procedure restores normal blood flow and most effectively reduces the risk of valve disease. The benefits are long lasting, but it does not cure mitral stenosis completely. If your stenosis relapses, you may require medication, a second valvuloplasty or additional valve procedures that your cardiologist will suggest.

  • It is a minimally invasive procedure that temporarily repairs your heart valve. And it usually can last upto 2 hours of operational time.