What is valvuloplasty?
The heart has four valves that regulate cardiac flow and ensure that it continues in the correct direction: the mitral and tricuspid valves are located between the atria and the ventricles, while the aortic valve and the pulmonary valve are located between the ventricles and the arteries. Valvuloplasty is a surgical procedure used to correct the heart muscle valves without replacing them.
Why is it performed?
Valvuloplasty is performed when the heart valves do not function as they should, causing not only cardiac, but also respiratory and circulatory problems. This malfunction may be caused by stenosis (narrowing) or by an anatomical defect of the valve itself.
Valvuloplasty is performed when the heart valves do not function properly.
What does it consist of?
Valvuloplasty is a very minimally invasive percutaneous procedure in which a catheter is inserted into the femoral artery and pushed up to the heart valves, where, depending on the patient’s pathology, the valves will be replaced or a balloon will be applied to resolve the valve stenosis.