BALLOON VALVULOPLASTY
What It's For ?
A valvuloplasty, also known as balloon valvuloplasty or balloon valvotomy, is a procedure to repair a heart valve that has a narrowed opening. In this valve condition, the valve flaps (leaflets) may become thick or stiff, and they may fuse together (stenosis). This causes the valve opening to be narrowed and results in reduced blood flow through the valve.
Balloon valvuloplasty can open narrowed heart valves by threading a balloon-tipped catheter to the part of your heart valve that’s narrowed and inflating it.
How it’s Done ?
In a valvuloplasty, a doctor inserts a long, thin tube (catheter) with a balloon on the tip into an artery in your arm or groin and guides it to the narrowed valve in the heart using X-ray imaging. A doctor then inflates the balloon, which expands the opening of the valve and separates the leaflets. The balloon is then deflated, and the catheter and balloon are removed.
Technology & Expertise at Caremax Hospital
Caremax Hospital is a referral center for the most complex heart surgeries. This means that other hospitals in the area send their most challenging cases to us.
When needed, Caremax Hospital surgeons are able to provide our patients with off-pump surgery—surgery that does not involve the heart lung machine. In this procedure, the patient’s heart continues to pump while just a portion of the heart is kept stationary during surgery.
Some evidence suggests that off-pump surgery may result in few complications and better outcomes. Off-pump surgery may be particularly beneficial to patients who are over 70 years old, have kidney or lung disease, have carotid artery disease, or who are at risk of stroke.
Approximately 50% of the bypass surgeries performed at Caremax Hospital are performed off-pump. Caremax Hospital is also active in providing less invasive approaches to bypass surgery. Through endoscopic vein harvesting, we are able to remove veins that will be used for the bypass through small incisions that heal faster. We also provide minimally-invasive bypass surgery which uses a smaller incision in your chest. This helps to speed healing and recovery.