valvuloplasty

A procedure we often recommend for patients with narrowed heart valves — it’s called Valvuloplasty. Think of it as a way to gently open a “stuck” or “tight” heart valve so your heart can pump blood more efficiently. In valvuloplasty, we insert a soft balloon through a thin tube (catheter), carefully guide it to the narrowed valve, and inflate it just enough to stretch the valve open — giving your heart the breathing room it needs. There are different types of valvuloplasty depending on which valve is affected 1. BMV – Balloon Mitral Valvotomy This procedure is for those who have Mitral Valve Stenosis, which often occurs due to rheumatic fever in the past. How it works: We insert a balloon catheter through a vein in the leg and guide it to your mitral valve (between the left heart chambers). The balloon is gently inflated to open the valve, improving blood flow and easing symptoms like breathlessness and fatigue. 2. BPV – Balloon Pulmonary Valvuloplasty This is usually done for children or young adults born with Pulmonary Valve Stenosis – a narrowing in the valve that leads from the heart to the lungs. What we do: A balloon catheter is threaded through a vein and placed into the pulmonary valve. Once in position, we inflate the balloon to open the valve and allow blood to flow easily to the lungs. BAV – Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty This is often used for elderly patients with Aortic Stenosis – a narrowing of the main valve that sends blood from the heart to the body. Here’s how it helps: The balloon catheter reaches the aortic valve through an artery. We inflate the balloon briefly to separate the stiffened valve leaflets, improving blood flow.