Valvuloplasty

A valvuloplasty is a procedure to open a stiff (stenotic) heart valve. It's done by a cardiologist. This is a medical provider who specializes in treating the heart and blood vessels. In valvuloplasty, your provider inserts a very small, narrow, hollow tube (catheter) into a blood vessel in the groin and advances it into the heart through either an artery or a vein. Once the catheter reaches the stiff valve, your provider inflates a large balloon at the tip of the catheter until the flaps (leaflets) of the valve are pushed opened. Once the valve has been opened, the provider deflates the balloon and removes the catheter.

To keep the blood flowing forward through the heart, there are valves between each of the heart's pumping chambers:

. Tricuspid valve. Located between the right atrium, which receives blood from the body, and the right ventricle.

. Pulmonary, or pulmonic, valve. Located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, which takes blood to the lungs to get oxygen.

. Mitral valve. Located between the left atrium, which receives blood from the lungs, and the left ventricle.

. Aortic valve. Located between the left ventricle and the aorta, which takes blood to the rest of the body.

Why might I need a valvuloplasty?

Valvuloplasty may be done to open a heart valve that has become narrow and stiff. But, not all conditions in which a heart valve becomes stiff are treatable with valvuloplasty. If the heart valves become damaged or diseased, they may not work properly. Conditions that may cause problems with the heart valves are stiffened valve (valvular stenosis) and leaky valve (valvular regurgitation). When one or more valves become stiff, the heart muscle must work harder to pump the blood through the valve. Stiff valves may be caused by birth defects, scarring from radiation therapy to treat cancer, aging, and infections, such as rheumatic fever or staph (staphylococcus) infections. If one or more valves become leaky, blood leaks backward and less blood is pumped in the correct direction.

Heart valve disease may cause the following symptoms:

. Dizziness

. Chest pain

. Trouble breathing

. Palpitations (fast, hard, or irregular heartbeats)

. Swelling (edema) of the feet, ankles, or abdomen

. Rapid weight gain due to fluid retention

. Severe tiredness (fatigue)

. Less energy when doing regular activity

There may be other reasons for your provider to advise a valvuloplasty.

What are the risks of a valvuloplasty?

Possible risks of valvuloplasty include:

. Bleeding at the catheter insertion site

. Blood clot or damage to the blood vessel at the insertion site

. Infection at the catheter insertion site

. Significant blood loss that may require blood transfusion 

. Abnormal heart rhythms

. Kidney failure

. Stroke

. New or worsening valve regurgitation (leakage)

. Rupture of the valve or the soft tissue around the valve. This requires open-heart surgery.

. Slowed heartbeat that may need a pacemaker

. Death

Article Source: More Information