Mitral valvuloplasty is a minimally invasive heart surgery to open up stiff or scarred heart valves. Mitral stenosis is a narrowing of the mitral valve that can block the flow of blood to the main pumping chamber of your heart. Mitral valvuloplasty is a nonsurgical procedure that “reshapes” the mitral valve, allowing blood to flow normally.

Before your procedure you are given medication to help you relax and ease any discomfort.

Your interventional cardiologist makes an incision in your artery and inserts a thin, spaghetti-like tube (catheter) with a balloon attached.

Next, your doctor advances the catheter through your blood vessels to the damaged valve. Using advanced imaging technology, real-time pictures of your heart and blood vessels display on a monitor to help your team pinpoint the areas that need treatment.

A special dye is injected through the catheter to show your valve’s movement in greater detail. Your doctor guides a balloon catheter to the site of the diseased valve and repeatedly inflates and deflates the balloon, pushing the diseased tissue out of the way so that blood can flow normally.

Once the valve is open, the catheter is removed and the procedure is complete.

You may need to stay overnight in the hospital so your team can monitor your recovery.