Hospital Tests & Procedures

BALLOON VALVULOPLASTY

Balloon Valvuloplasty is a non-surgical procedure involving balloon dilatation of narrowed heart valves. This treatment is effective and durable only in certain cases of rheumatic heart disease (specifically, mitral valve narrowing) which is rare in the U.S. 

On certain occasions balloon dilatation of the narrowed aortic valve is performed as temporary measure in older patients who are not candidates for surgery or as a "bridge" procedure to stabilize patients before definitive valve replacement.