anesthetic agents (local and general).
- You will need to fast for a certain period prior to the procedure. Your
doctor will tell you how long to fast, usually overnight.
- If you are pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant, tell your doctor.
- Tell your doctor if you have any body piercings on your chest and/or abdomen.
- Tell your doctor of all medications (prescription and over-the-counter)
and herbal supplements that you are taking.
- Tell your doctor if you have a history of bleeding disorders or if you
are taking any anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medications, aspirin, or
other medications that affect blood clotting. It may be necessary for
you to stop some of these medications prior to the procedure.
- Your doctor may request a blood test prior to the procedure to determine
how long it takes your blood to clot. Other blood tests may be done as well.
- Tell your doctor if you have a pacemaker.
- You may receive a sedative prior to the procedure to help you relax.
- Based on your medical condition, your doctor may request other specific
What happens during a valvuloplasty?
A valvuloplasty may be performed as part of your stay in a hospital. Procedures
may vary depending on your condition and your doctor's practices.
Generally, a valvuloplasty follows this process:
- You will be asked to remove any jewelry or other objects that may interfere
with the procedure. You may wear your dentures or hearing aids if you
use either of these.
- You will be asked to remove clothing and will be given a gown to wear.
- You will be asked to empty your bladder prior to the procedure.
- An intravenous (IV) line will be started in your hand or arm prior to the
procedure for injection of medication and to administer IV fluids, if needed.
- You will lie on the procedure table.
- If there is excessive hair at the catheter insertion site (groin area),
the hair may be shaved off.
- You will be connected to an electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor that records
the electrical activity of the heart and monitors the heart during the
procedure using small, adhesive electrodes. Your vital signs (heart rate,
blood pressure, breathing rate, and oxygenation level) will be monitored
during the procedure.
- There will be several monitor screens in the room, showing your vital signs,
the images of the catheter being moved through the body into the heart,
and the structures of the heart as the dye is injected.
- You will receive a sedative medication in your IV before the procedure
to help you relax. However, you will likely remain awake during the procedure
- Your pulses below the injection site will be checked and marked so that
the circulation to the limb below the site can be checked after the procedure.
- A local anesthetic will be injected into the skin at the insertion site.
You may feel some stinging at the site for a few seconds after the local
anesthetic is injected.
- Once the local anesthetic has taken effect, a sheath, or introducer, will
be inserted into the blood vessel. This is a plastic tube through which
the catheter will be inserted into the blood vessel and advanced into
- The valvuloplasty catheter will be inserted through the sheath into the
blood vessel. The doctor will advance the catheter through the vein or
artery across the heart valve. Fluoroscopy (a special type of X-ray that
will be displayed on a TV monitor) may be used to assist in advancing
the catheter to the heart.
- Once the catheter is in place, contrast dye will be injected through the
catheter into the valve in order to look at the area. You may feel some
effects when the contrast dye is injected into the IV line. These effects
include a flushing sensation, a salty or metallic taste in the mouth,
or a brief headache. These effects usually last for a few moments.
- You should tell the doctor if you feel any breathing difficulties, sweating,
numbness, itching, chills, nausea and/or vomiting, or heart palpitations.
- The doctor will watch the contrast dye injection on a monitor. The doctor
may ask you to take a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds.
- Once the ball