In this Article

• What happens during traditional heart valve surgery?
• What if my valves cannot be repaired?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of valve?
• Are there non-surgical options for valve disease?
• What happens during balloon valvuloplasty?
• What happens after the procedure?
• Does balloon valvuloplasty cure valve disease?
• Heart Valve Disease Treatment Index
• Find a local Cardiologist in your town

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Type of Valve?

• Mechanical valves. The advantage to mechanical valves is their sturdiness. They are designed to last for many years. There are also drawbacks. Due to the artificial material involved, people who receive these valves will need to be on life-long blood-thinners to prevent clots from forming in the mechanical valve. These clots can cause strokes. Also, some people report a valve ticking sound that is usually not bothersome. It is the sound of the valve leaflets opening and closing.
• Biological valves. The advantage of biological valves is that most people do not need to be on lifelong blood-thinner medication, unless they have other conditions (such as Atrial fibrillation that warrant it. The drawback is that biological valves are not as durable as mechanical valves, especially in younger people. They may need to be replaced at about 10 years. In older people (greater than age 60), these valves last longer, often 15 years or more.
• Homograft valves. These valves have been used for only about 15 years, but they are expected to last much longer and may not need to be replaced.

Are There Non-Surgical Options for Valve Disease?

Yes. Balloon valvuloplasty is used to increase the opening of a narrowed (stenotic) valve. It is used for select patients who have mitral valve stenosis (narrowing of the mitral valve) with symptoms, older people who have aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve), but are not able to undergo surgery, and some patients with pulmonic stenosis (narrowing of the pulmonic valve).

What Happens During Balloon Valvuloplasty?

A specially designed catheter is inserted into the blood vessels in the groin and guided to the heart. The tip is directed inside the narrowed valve. Once there, a tiny balloon is inflated and deflated several times to widen the valve opening. Once the cardiologist is satisfied the valve has been widened enough, the balloon is removed.

During the procedure, the cardiologist may perform an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) to get a better picture of the valve.

The procedure takes about one hour, but the preparation and recovery adds more time. Plan on staying overnight.