PTMC is a percutaneous procedure done in the cardiac cath lab by Interventional Cardiologist for the patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis.
What is Mitral stenosis?
The human heart has 4 valves. Mitral valve connects left atrium to left ventricle. It opens during the relaxation phase of ventricles to allow blood to flow from Left Atrium to left ventricles. In Mitral stenosis, the valve leaflets are fused and so they cannot open normally. Hence blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle is impaired. Rheumatic Heart Disease is the important cause for mitral stenosis.
How is PTMC done?
It is a minimally invasive procedure. A thin tube called catheter is inserted through an artery in the groin/arm and it is threaded to the heart. The catheter is directed to the mitral valve. A balloon device located at the tip of this tube is inflated quickly. The narrowed mitral leaflets are stretched open, thus increasing the size of the mitral valve opening. So more blood flows from the left atrium to the left ventricle.