What is BMV, a cardiac operation?

What is BMV, a cardiac operation?

BMV is short form for balloon mitral valvotomy. It is a method of enlarging the opening of a narrowed mitral valve. Narrowing of the mitral valve is known as mitral stenosis. Mitral valve is the valve between the left upper and lower chambers of the heart. It is a keyhole procedure and not an open surgery. A small tube with a balloon attached at the tip known as balloon catheter, is introduced through a small nick in the groin, under local anaesthesia. It is guided to the heart under continuous X-ray imaging and placed across the narrowed mitral valve. Once position is confirmed, the balloon is inflated to relieve the obstruction in the mitral valve.