Valvuloplasty (or PTBV, percutaneous transluminal balloon valvuloplasty) is a procedure that is performed in the cardiac cath lab. PTBV is meant to treat narrowed, hardened heart valves, and happens in 3 steps: An expandable balloon catheter is brought into your heart and placed inside the narrowed, hardened heart valve. The balloon is inflated, stretching the […]
balloon catheter
Stent Placement
A stent is a small metal tube or coil used to hold a narrowed artery open. Your healthcare provider places the stent by performing an atherectomy or angioplasty, which compress or remove plaque found in the artery. In some cases, the stent is placed during a balloon angioplasty. The procedure follows these steps: An expandable […]