Balloon MitralValvuloplasty
A minimally invasive procedure that gently opens a narrowed mitral valve, restoring healthy blood flow and giving the heart room to breathe again.
A catheter-based treatment for selected patients with mitral stenosis, particularly rheumatic mitral stenosis, designed to improve blood flow without open-heart surgery.
Opening a narrowed valve
without open-heart surgery.
Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty, also called Percutaneous Mitral Balloon Valvuloplasty (PMBV), is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat mitral stenosis.
In mitral stenosis, the mitral valve becomes narrowed and restricts blood flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle. A specially designed balloon catheter is guided to the heart and carefully inflated across the narrowed valve.
The balloon separates the fused valve leaflets, increasing the opening of the valve and allowing blood to flow more freely.
Minimally invasive catheter-based procedure
No open-heart surgery
Improves blood flow across the mitral valve
Can reduce breathlessness and exercise intolerance
Shorter recovery compared with conventional surgery
Particularly effective in carefully selected rheumatic cases
Four precise steps.
One carefully guided procedure.
Catheter Introduction
A thin catheter is introduced through a blood vessel, usually through the groin, and carefully guided toward the heart.
Is the valve anatomy
right for balloon treatment?
When balloon treatment may be appropriate
Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis
Symptomatic moderate-to-severe mitral stenosis
Favorable valve anatomy on echocardiography
Suitable Wilkins Score
Appropriate after detailed cardiac evaluation
Selected patients with atrial fibrillation after intracardiac clot has been ruled out
Other treatment may be more appropriate
Severe mitral regurgitation
Heavily calcified mitral valve
Unfavorable valve anatomy
Significant left atrial clot
Other cardiac conditions where surgery or another treatment is more appropriate
Understanding the Wilkins Score
The Wilkins Score is an echocardiographic scoring system used to assess whether a mitral valve is anatomically suitable for balloon valvuloplasty.
Your cardiologist evaluates four important characteristics of the valve before recommending treatment.
What if you also have atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation does not automatically prevent Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty. However, because AF and mitral stenosis can increase the risk of blood-clot formation, the heart must be carefully evaluated before the procedure.
If a significant clot is present, the procedure may need to be postponed until it is appropriately managed.
When mitral stenosis
starts affecting daily life.
Mitral stenosis can gradually interfere with normal blood flow through the heart. Some patients may have significant valve narrowing before obvious symptoms appear.
Breathlessness, especially during activity
Fatigue and reduced exercise capacity
Palpitations
Swelling of the legs or ankles
Chest discomfort
Dizziness
Breathlessness when lying down
Restoring blood flow
through a narrowed valve.
Carefully selected patient with significant rheumatic mitral stenosis.
Following detailed echocardiographic assessment, the valve anatomy was considered suitable for balloon treatment. Advanced imaging was used to guide the catheter and assess the valve before and after balloon inflation.
Increase the mitral valve opening
Improve blood flow
Reduce pressure within the left atrium
Improve symptoms where possible
Following successful balloon dilatation, the mitral valve opening improved and blood flow across the valve became more favorable.
Every case is different. Treatment suitability and outcomes depend on individual valve anatomy, disease severity, overall health and cardiac assessment.
Balloon treatment
vs open surgery.
Catheter-based
Surgical
No
Usually required
Generally shorter
Generally longer
Selected favorable valve anatomy
Patients unsuitable for balloon treatment
No
May be required in selected cases
Usually shorter
Usually longer
The appropriate treatment depends on the individual patient's valve anatomy and overall cardiac condition.
Detailed evaluation comes first.
- Detailed clinical evaluation
- Echocardiography
- TEE when required
- Mitral valve anatomy assessment
- Wilkins Score assessment
- Evaluation for atrial or cardiac clot
- Electrocardiogram
- Blood tests
- Other cardiac imaging when indicated
Careful monitoring continues.
- Mitral valve opening assessment
- Blood flow across the valve
- Mitral regurgitation assessment
- Heart rhythm monitoring
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Catheter-entry site assessment
- Follow-up echocardiography when recommended
Designed around
less disruption.
Minimally Invasive
Performed through a catheter rather than open-heart surgery.
Restores Valve Opening
The balloon helps separate fused mitral valve leaflets.
Improves Blood Flow
A larger valve opening allows blood to move more freely.
Faster Recovery
Recovery is generally shorter than traditional open-heart procedures.
Understanding the potential risks.
Like any cardiac procedure, Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty has potential risks. Your cardiologist will discuss these based on your individual condition.
Bleeding or bruising at the catheter-entry site
Damage to blood vessels
Increased mitral regurgitation
Arrhythmias
Blood-clot-related complications
Infection
Rare cardiac complications
Rare need for emergency surgery
Questions patients
often ask.
Clear answers to common questions about Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty.
No. It is a minimally invasive catheter-based procedure performed through a blood vessel rather than through open-heart surgery.
Patients with significant mitral stenosis and favorable valve anatomy, particularly those with rheumatic mitral stenosis, may benefit significantly.
Yes, selected patients with atrial fibrillation can undergo the procedure. However, the presence of a blood clot in the heart must be carefully evaluated before treatment.
The Wilkins Score evaluates mitral valve mobility, thickening, calcification and subvalvular involvement to help determine whether the valve is suitable for balloon valvuloplasty.
Heavily calcified valves are generally less suitable for balloon valvuloplasty because the valve anatomy may not respond favorably and the risk of complications can be higher.
Balloon valvuloplasty is primarily used for mitral stenosis. Significant pre-existing mitral regurgitation may make the procedure unsuitable and requires careful specialist assessment.
Recovery varies from patient to patient. Because the procedure is minimally invasive, recovery is generally faster than open-heart surgery.
Could Balloon Mitral
Valvuloplasty be right for you?
The right treatment depends on your mitral valve anatomy, severity of stenosis, symptoms and overall cardiac health.
A detailed cardiac evaluation is required to determine treatment suitability.