Some stenosis cases can be treated in the cath lab with which procedure?

Some stenosis cases can be treated in the cath lab with which procedure?

• A. Valvuloplasty (Balloon Dilation)
• B. Valve Replacement
• C. Ablation
• D. Bypass Grafting

Answer: (A)

Stenosis means a narrowed opening, and the way to treat many stenotic lesions percutaneously is to widen the narrowed area from inside the heart or vessel. Balloon valvuloplasty uses a catheter with a deflated balloon placed across the stenotic valve, then the balloon is inflated to split constricted leaflets or widen the orifice. This increases the effective orifice area and lowers the pressure gradient, improving blood flow without open-heart surgery. It’s especially useful for certain valve stenoses, such as rheumatic mitral stenosis or some congenital lesions, and can be a bridge to definitive valve replacement when surgery isn’t immediately feasible. It’s not typically used for calcific aortic stenosis, and the other options involve valve replacement, ablation, or bypass surgery, which are different approaches.

Stenosis means a narrowed opening, and the way to treat many stenotic lesions percutaneously is to widen the narrowed area from inside the heart or vessel. Balloon valvuloplasty uses a catheter with a deflated balloon placed across the stenotic valve, then the balloon is inflated to split constricted leaflets or widen the orifice. This increases the effective orifice area and lowers the pressure gradient, improving blood flow without open-heart surgery. It’s especially useful for certain valve stenoses, such as rheumatic mitral stenosis or some congenital lesions, and can be a bridge to definitive valve replacement when surgery isn’t immediately feasible. It’s not typically used for calcific aortic stenosis, and the other options involve valve replacement, ablation, or bypass surgery, which are different approaches.