Balloon Pulmonary Valvotomy (BPV), also known as Balloon Pulmonary Valvuloplasty, is a minimally invasive catheter-based procedure used to treat Pulmonary Valve Stenosis. In this condition, the valve between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery becomes narrowed, restricting blood flow to the lungs. BPV is commonly performed in infants, children, and newborns, and can also be successfully performed in older patients with congenital pulmonary stenosis.
Balloon Pulmonary Valvotomy safely opens the narrowed pulmonary valve, improves blood flow to the lungs, and avoids open-heart surgery.
Pulmonary valve stenosis is usually congenital and may range from mild to severe. If left untreated, severe obstruction can lead to increased pressure in the right side of the heart, reduced oxygen delivery, and progressive heart dysfunction.
- Breathlessness and reduced exercise capacity
- Fatigue and easy tiredness
- Cyanosis (bluish discoloration) in newborns
- Poor feeding or poor weight gain in infants
- Chest pain or fainting in older children and adults
- Right-sided heart enlargement and failure
When Is Balloon Pulmonary Valvotomy Recommended?
Balloon Pulmonary Valvotomy is the preferred first-line treatment for moderate to severe pulmonary valve stenosis when hemodynamic and clinical criteria are met.
BPV is recommended when right ventricular pressure exceeds 50% of systemic pressure, Doppler gradient is ≥50–60 mmHg, and symptoms such as breathlessness, cyanosis, or exercise limitation are present.
BPV is most effective in typical dome-shaped pulmonary valves, critical pulmonary stenosis in newborns, post-surgical restenosis, and isolated congenital pulmonary valve narrowing.
The procedure is performed under sedation or general anesthesia depending on age. A catheter is inserted through the femoral vein, a balloon is positioned across the pulmonary valve, inflated to open the valve, and then removed without the need for stitches.
BPV offers excellent long-term results, low complication rates, relief of symptoms, normalization of right ventricular function, and avoids open-heart surgery in most patients.
In newborns with critical pulmonary stenosis and low oxygen levels, BPV is lifesaving. It is often performed urgently and may require temporary prostaglandin infusion to maintain ductal patency before the procedure.
Expert Balloon Pulmonary Valvotomy Program
Comprehensive evaluation and expert performance of Balloon Pulmonary Valvotomy using modern catheter-based techniques to ensure safety, symptom relief, and excellent long-term outcomes for infants, children, and adults.
