Your heart is the chief primary pump of your body, its main function being to pump and circulate oxygenated blood all through your body and deoxygenated blood back to the lungs for removal. The heart is a pump, with heart valves that allow blood to flow in a single direction throughout the heart. There are four valves that determine the flow of blood through the heart. A heart valve is a kind of one-way door that can either open or close based on the changes in blood pressure.
The four main valves in the heart areas follows.
- There are two atrioventricular (AV) valves, the mitral valve (or the bicuspid valve), and the tricuspid valve, which are located between the upper chambers (atria) and the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart.
- There are two semilunar (SL) valves, the aortic valve and the pulmonary valve, which separate the heart and the arteries leaving the heart.
If there is a defect in the valve, this could be a possible indication for valve surgical repair. The defect in the valves can be either congenital (from birth) or acquired. Acquired causes could be varied ranging from infection (rheumatic fever) to trauma.
What are the methods of fixing damaged valves ?
There are two main methods.
- Heart Valve Repair and
- Heart Valve Replacement
What is balloon valvuloplasty ?
Balloon Valvuloplasty (also known as valvulotomy or valvotomy) is a kind of heart valve repair procedure. When the valve is too narrow, such as by valve stenosis, the method to open it is by “balloon valvotomy”. In this procedure, a specialized catheter with a balloon at its tip will be inserted into an artery either in the arm or groin. Once it reaches the valve, the balloon is inflated; the valve is expanded and then both catheter and balloon are removed also via the same route. This increases the width of the valve and artery in the blocked area by inflation, and a stent can be used to make it stay broad.
A Balloon Valvuloplasty is still a relatively minor surgical procedure as compared to the other cardiac procedures like bypass graft surgery/ open heart surgery or heart transplantation which are major surgical procedures.
The surgical procedure however, still requires a dedicated change in lifestyle and rehabilitative exercises to help recover full heart function. Your cardiologist will choose the best procedure to treat you based on your heart’s condition.
How to find cardiologists for balloon valvuloplasty procedure ?
Now you can find cardiologists for balloon valvuloplasty from different hospitals and destinations on a single platform, Hinfoways. You can avail opinions and information from multiple cardiologists, get cost estimates for balloon valvuloplasty procedure from different hospitals, compare things and then choose a cardiologist for balloon valvuloplasty procedure.
Find a cardiologist for balloon valvuloplasty procedure on Hinfoways. Make an informed choice.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
