Details of Balloon Valvuloplasty

A balloon valvuloplasty is a procedure performed to open a heart valve that is abnormally narrow using a catheter with a balloon at it's tip through a keyhole surgery. This is also called balloon valve surgery, valve dilation. Actually, heart valves are the gates which control the blood circulation between two chambers of the heart and flow out of the heart as well.

May include: 

• Cough without blood 
• Chest pain 
• Fatigue 
• Swelling in the ankles 
• Respiratory infections 
• Purple cheeks 
• Breathlessness 
• Rapid heart beats

May include:

• Congenital heart defects. 
• Calcium accumulation around the valve. 
• Endocarditis.

May include:

• Physical examination 
• Stress tests 
• Imaging tests such as Echocardiogram, Chest X-ray, Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)

During this procedure, the doctor inserts a flexible tube with a balloon at it's tip through the groin artery and reaches to the heart valve, here this balloon is inflated which causes enlargement of valve to function properly. It's purpose is to improve blood circulation.

May include: 

• Excessive bleeding 
• Stroke
• Arrhythmia 
• Severe pain 
• Swelling around the area 
• Damage to the heart