What is Percutaneous Balloon Valvuloplasty?

Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty is done to open a constricted heart valve with a balloon.

Mitral Valve Stenosis © 2008 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Any of the heart’s four valves can become deformed. It may happen because of congenital conditions (from birth) or scarring from disease. A damaged valve can decrease the amount of blood that flows through it. This condition is called stenosis . Low blood flow can lead to heart failure and death. The valve will need to be opened to restore full blood flow.

Rheumatic fever and congenital birth defects are two top causes of stenosis. It can also happen due to aging and calcium deposits.

Depending on the overall condition of the valve, relief of symptoms can be expected to last at least two years. Some people have relief of symptoms much longer.

Possible Complications

If you are planning to have a valvuloplasty, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Leaking valve
• Damage to the heart or other organs
• Blood clot formation
• Stroke

Even patients who are too weak or ill to undergo major surgery have less than a 5% chance of dying during this procedure. Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Blood clots in the heart
• The anatomy of the valve
• Overall health status

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge from the...