Treat Valve Stenosis with Valvuloplasty in Henderson and Las Vegas, NV
Valvuloplasty, or balloon valvuloplasty, is a treatment for a narrowed heart valve. It involves stretching the heart valve so blood can flow normally into and out of the heart.
If one of your heart valves is diseased or damaged, it can shrink and become stiff, a condition called stenosis. When this happens, it restricts blood flow in and out of the heart. This can lead to poor oxygen supply to your tissues, enlarged heart chambers, or congestion in the lungs. Balloon valvuloplasty stretches the valve out to its usual size so blood can flow normally. Doctors most often use valvuloplasty to treat mitral valve stenosis or aortic valve stenosis.
If you’re hoping for a way to treat heart valve conditions, valvuloplasty might be an option. Learn more about valvuloplasty in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV at Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican hospitals. You can find a trusted cardiologist or call (702) 616-4900 for a referral to an interventional cardiologist.
Your Valvuloplasty Procedure
An interventional cardiologist performs valvuloplasty in a hospital. This interventional procedure generally requires an overnight stay. Your doctor will make a small incision in an artery, usually in the groin area. Then, the doctor will insert a flexible tube, or catheter, to route tiny instruments to the site of the valve. Inside the valve, the doctor will inflate a small balloon to stretch the valve tissue. You may feel mild burning or discomfort in the chest, which is normal. You will likely receive sedation to keep you comfortable. After the valve has been stretched out, the doctor will deflate the balloon and remove the instruments along with the catheter.
As a minimally invasive procedure, valvuloplasty generally results in less pain and a quicker recovery than traditional open heart surgery. However, valvuloplasty does carry some risks, which you should discuss with your doctor. Risks include excessive bleeding, heart attack, or heart rhythm problems.
Recovery from Valvuloplasty at Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican Hospitals
You will spend some time in a recovery area and then move to a hospital room. For several hours, you will need to lie motionless on your back while the incision in your groin seals.
Before you go home, you will receive instructions about activity restrictions, medications, and follow-up appointments. Be sure to promptly report any unusual symptoms, including heart palpitations, swelling or bleeding at the incision site, or fever.
Valvuloplasty can help restore blood flow throughout your body. This could give you more energy and may spare your heart from damage due to overwork.
Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican hospitals provides interventional procedures, such as valvuloplasty, in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV.