VALVULOPLASTIA PERCUTANEA

Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty is a method of treating stenotic pulmonary, mitral, and aortic valves without open surgery. For pulmonary valvuloplasty, a balloon-tipped catheter is passed from the femoral or brachial vein into the right atrium. From there it is threaded just to the entrance of the right ventricle, the site of the pulmonic valve. By puncturing the atrial septum, access can also be obtained for either the mitral or aortic valves. The femoral artery can also be used to avoid septal puncture. When the balloon is positioned at the heart valve, a series of inflation-deflation cycles are required to relieve stenosis <a id="