Tricuspid stenosis is the most rare valvular heart disease. The condition is usually of rheumatic origin. In most cases, stenosis is accompanied by tricuspid insufficiency. The tricuspid valve is rarely affected alone because it is mainly affected together with the mitral valve and sometimes with other heart valves. Open surgeries and minimally invasive procedures are performed to treat the disease in Germany.
Content
- What is balloon valvuloplasty?
- Comparison of balloon valvuloplasty with valve replacement
- When can balloon valvuloplasty be used?
The procedure is performed through the femoral vessels under X-ray guidance. Doctors insert a balloon into the heart through a femoral vein and inflate it with fluid. The balloon expands and increases the area of the tricuspid valve by 1-2 square centimeters, eliminating or reducing the severity of the stenosis.
You can seek medical attention at the University Hospital Essen, the University Hospital Oldenburg, or the University Hospital Ulm.
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What is balloon valvuloplasty?
Endovascular tricuspid valve repair is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed through an incision in the femoral artery in the groin. Cardiosurgery doctors insert one or two balloons into the vascular bed, which are delivered to the heart through the veins.
The balloon is placed in the region of the tricuspid valve. An X-ray-guided injection of saline with a contrast agent is then carried out. The balloon increases in volume and separates the fused heart valve leaflets, increasing the area of the tricuspid valve.
Comparison of balloon valvuloplasty with valve replacement
The advantages of balloon valvuloplasty over heart valve replacement surgery are the following:
- a minimal trauma rate;
- a short recovery time;
- a low risk of complications.
The disadvantage of the procedure is its inability to eliminate valvular insufficiency if it accompanies stenosis, and even its potential aggravation.
When can balloon valvuloplasty be used?
Percutaneous valvuloplasty is not considered the main treatment for stenosis. This is because it is usually accompanied by heart valve insufficiency, and the procedure often exacerbates the insufficiency. In addition, most patients with tricuspid stenosis have other valvular pathologies that require surgical repair.
This is why open surgery is the most common procedure for tricuspid stenosis. It is aimed at heart valve replacement, but less often, this surgical procedure can be used for heart valve reconstruction. The manipulations on other heart valves can be performed simultaneously. Most often, this is mitral valve reconstruction.
Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty in Germany can be performed in the following cases:
- severe symptomatic tricuspid stenosis;
- no damage to other heart valves;
- absence of tricuspid insufficiency;
- a patient from a high surgical risk group (in the presence of concomitant diseases that make open surgery unsafe).
You can undergo your tricuspid valve stenosis treatment in Germany and expect high success rates for the procedure. You are welcome to choose the most suitable hospitals with cardiosurgery departments, find out the cost of treatment, and select a medical care program at a favorable price on the Booking Health website. We will help you find clinics with good cardiosurgery departments in Germany and arrange your trip.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources:
National Library of Medicine
American Heart Association
European Society of Cardiology