What is balloon aortic valvuloplasty?
The aortic valve is the doorway between the heart's main pumping chamber and the body. When it is narrowed, the heart must generate far higher pressure to push blood out, and the muscle thickens in response.
Balloon aortic valvuloplasty stretches the narrowed valve open using a balloon delivered by catheter. It is widely regarded as the first-choice treatment for children with aortic valve stenosis severe enough to need intervention.
When it is recommended
What happens on the day
Under general anaesthesia, a catheter is passed to the aortic valve, usually from the groin artery. Pressures are measured, the balloon is positioned precisely across the valve and inflated briefly, and pressures are re-measured.
Sizing is critical here. Too small and the narrowing is not relieved; too large and the valve can be made leaky. This is careful, judgement-heavy work.
What to expect long term
BAV relieves the obstruction; it does not create a normal valve. Many children do well for years and some need further intervention or valve surgery in adolescence or adulthood. Lifelong cardiology follow-up is part of the plan from the start, and we will be clear with you about this from the beginning.