Balloon Valvuloplasty
Balloon valvuloplasty (also known as percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty) is a treatment that widens a stiff or narrowed heart valve.
An interventional cardiologist guides a catheter through the heart and positions it through the diseased heart valve. Balloons on the catheter inflate, enlarging the valve opening and improving blood flow through the heart and to the rest of the body. This allows the heart to pump more effectively and reduces painful pressure in the heart and lungs.