Balloon valvuloplasty, also called percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty, is a procedure used to enlarge a narrowed, or stenotic, heart valve. Narrowed heart valves do not allow a normal amount of blood to pass through them, and can produce symptoms of fatigue, blood pressure abnormalities, fainting and angina. Balloon valvuloplasty is often used to delay heart surgery for valve repair or replacement.

In balloon valvuloplasty, a catheter with a small deflated balloon at its tip is threaded from an artery in the groin up to the opening of the narrowed heart valve. The balloon is then slowly inflated a number of times to stretch the valve opening, which should allow greater blood flow and a reduction of symptoms.

For a referral to an expert cardiologist at St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals in New York City,
call 1 (877) 996-9334.