Pulmonary valve stenosis is classified as mild, moderate or severe, depending on a measurement of the blood pressure difference between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery. Mild pulmonary stenosis doesn't usually require treatment, just routine checkups.
Depending on the degree of obstruction, more-serious cases may need either balloon valvuloplasty or open-heart surgery.
Dec. 04, 2014
Balloon valvuloplasty. Using the small tube that was threaded through a vein in your leg to your heart for a cardiac catheterization, your doctor places an uninflated balloon through the opening of the narrowed pulmonary valve. He or she then inflates the balloon, widening the narrowed valve to increase blood flow, and then removes the balloon.
The most common side effect of a balloon valvuloplasty is blood leakage back through the pulmonary valve (valve regurgitation). As with most procedures, there is a risk of bleeding, infection or blood clots.
- Open-heart surgery. When balloon valvuloplasty isn't an option, you may require open-heart surgery. During surgery, your doctor either repairs the pulmonary artery or valve or replaces the valve with an artificial valve. Repairs to other congenital heart defects can be made during the surgery, as well. There's a slight risk of bleeding, infection or blood clots associated with the surgery.
- Stout KA. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of pulmonic stenosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Oct. 11, 2014.
- Stout KA. Natural history and treatment of pulmonic stenosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Oct. 11, 2014.
- Pulmonary valve stenosis and regurgitation. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/AboutCongenitalHeartDefects/Pulmonary-Valve-Stenosis_UCM_307034_Article.jsp. Accessed Oct. 11, 2014.
- Pulmonary stenosis. Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions. http://www.scai.org/SecondsCount/Disease/detail.aspx?cid=de7f6f7d-0cbe-4447-bb25-43d8d625e614. Accessed Oct. 11, 2014.
- Getting healthy. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/GettingHealthy_UCM_001078_SubHomePage.jsp. Accessed Oct. 14, 2014.
- Peng LF, et al. Pulmonic stenosis (PS) in neonates, infants and children. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Oct. 14, 2014.
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