Balloon valvuloplasty is a nonsurgical procedure performed to repair stenosis (narrowing) of either the aortic or mitral valves.

During the procedure a special catheter is threaded into a blood vessel in the patient’s groin, guided into the heart and advanced to the narrowed heart valve. Once in the narrowed heart valve, the balloon in the catheter is inflated in an effort to increase the opening size of the valve, thereby improving blood flow. Balloon valvuloplasty is:

• A “bridge” to surgery in patients who are at high risk for aortic valve or mitral valve heart surgery
• An option to relieve symptoms in patients with other serious medical conditions that prevent performance of aortic valve or mitral valve heart surgery

Meet the Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty Team