Balloon Valvotomy is a medical procedure often used to treat heart valve stenosis. It involves inserting a balloon-tipped catheter into the valve to widen it and improve blood flow. The spelling of "valvotomy" is pronounced /væl'vɑːtəmi/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The word is composed of "valve" which refers to a structure that regulates blood flow and "otomy" which means "cutting into". The balloon in balloon valvotomy refers to the catheter's balloon tip that is used to widen the valve. This procedure is effective in improving symptoms associated with heart valve stenosis.
Balloon valvotomy, also known as balloon valvuloplasty, is a medical procedure performed to repair a narrowed heart valve. It is a minimally invasive technique used primarily to treat a condition called valvular stenosis, where one or more heart valves become stiff or partially obstructed. This restricted blood flow can lead to symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
During a balloon valvotomy, a catheter with a deflated balloon attached to its tip is inserted into a blood vessel, typically in the groin or arm. The catheter is carefully guided to the narrowed heart valve using fluoroscopy, a type of X-ray imaging. Once in position, the balloon is inflated to stretch and open up the valve, relieving the obstruction and improving blood flow.
The increased diameter of the valve after balloon inflation allows the heart to pump blood more efficiently, subsequently reducing symptoms associated with valvular stenosis. The balloon is then deflated and removed from the body.
Balloon valvotomy is considered a less invasive alternative to surgical valve replacement, particularly in cases where the patient is deemed high risk for surgery or when the valve narrowing is relatively mild. Although the procedure provides temporary relief, it may not be a permanent solution, and some patients may eventually require valve replacement surgery.
Overall, balloon valvotomy is a therapeutic intervention used to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life in individuals with valvular stenosis by widening the narrowed heart valve using an inflatable balloon.
The word "balloon valvotomy" consists of two main parts: "balloon" and "valvotomy".
The term "balloon" originated from the Middle French word "ballon", derived from the Latin word "balloneus", which means "large ball". The word "balloon" was originally used to refer to a toy made from an inflatable pouch.
The term "valvotomy" is derived from two Greek words: "valva", meaning "a door" or "a leaf", and "tomē", meaning "a cutting" or "an incision". In medical terminology, "valvotomy" refers to a surgical procedure in which an incision is made in a valve, usually to treat stenosis (narrowing) of a heart valve.