Pulmonary valve stenosis is a narrowing of the valve between the lower right heart chamber and the pulmonary artery, which carries blood from the heart to the lungs. It is a structural problem that develops before a baby is born (congenital heart defect).
Because the valve is narrow, the heart pumps harder to try to get enough blood through it. The narrower the valve, the more symptoms the baby will have.
Treatment for pulmonary valve stenosis is typically a minimally invasive catheter-based procedure called a percutaneous balloon pulmonary dilation (valvuloplasty) to open up the valve.
Surgical repair of the defect (heart valve surgery) may be needed if the valve is badly deformed.
Before these treatments, medicines may be given to maintain the blood flow or to otherwise improve heart function and blood flow.
Current as of:
September 21, 2016
Author:
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & John Pope, MD, MPH - Pediatrics & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine & Larry A. Latson, MD - Pediatric Cardiology, Critical Care Medicine