Balloon valvuloplasty is a surgical procedure used to treat narrow valves by stretching them open without having to do open heart surgery.  The heart has 4 valves: aortic, pulmonary, mitral, and tricuspid.  In patients that have narrow valves that restrict blood flow across, it is termed a stenotic valve.  This procedure is best for patients with pulmonary stenosis, but also can be used for mitral stenosis and aortic stenosis.   

Pre-Operative Details:

Your surgeon will give specific instructions before the surgery, including risks (i.e. bleeding, infection, adverse reaction to anesthesia, etc.).  Please make sure to contact your insurance company for coverage.  You will also meet with the anesthesiologist prior to the surgery to go over your medical history.  Please do not eat after midnight the night before your surgery.  On the day of surgery, you will arrive at the hospital, get registered, and get changed into a hospital gown.  A nurse will then review your chart to make sure there are no problems and then get all the paperwork in order for surgery.  The anesthesiologist will then start an IV and you will be taken to the operating room, where the surgeon will verify your name and procedure before any medication is given.  Once you are given a local anesthetic, surgery will begin.

Operative Details:

The surgeon will make a tiny incision in the groin area to access the femoral artery.  From there, he will create a conduit via a catheter (a thin tube) to allow a small deflated balloon to be passed through the first catheter.  This balloon (on a second catheter) is guided up the artery to the heart with direct visualization through a video monitor and repetitive X-rays.  Once the balloon reaches the stenotic valve and positioned correctly, it is inflated repeatedly to allow the valve leaflets to split apart and widen the valve area.  Once done, the balloon catheter will be removed, but the first catheter may stay in for up to a day in case the procedure must be repeated.  

Post-Operative Details:

After the surgery, you will be taken to the post-operative/recovery area and be monitored.  You will likely experience pain and will given pain medication appropriately.  It is important to keep the incision areas clean and dry once the catheter is removed (with direct pressure applied 30min after removal).  The length of your hospital stay depends on how quickly you are able to recover and perform some physical activity.  If you experience fevers, severe pain, redness/swelling/warmth where the incisions were made, or drainage from the incisions, please let your doctor know immediately.  Your surgeon will give specific instructions about recovery time.