Balloon Valvuloplasty is the recommended treatment for severe pulmonary stenosis. Some cases of pulmonary stenosis are mild and do not require treatment except for routine checkups. However, more serious cases may require either balloon valvuloplasty or open-heart surgery.
The decision to perform a balloon valvuloplasty or open-heart surgery depends on the extent to which the pulmonary valve is obstructed. Pulmonary stenosis is classified as mild, moderate or severe, depending on a measurement of the blood pressure difference between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.
Valvuloplasty uses cardiac catheterization to treat pulmonary valve stenosis. During this procedure, the doctor threads a small tube through a vein in the patient's leg and up to the heart. An uninflated balloon is placed through the opening of the narrowed pulmonary valve. The doctor then inflates the balloon, opening up the narrowed pulmonary valve and increasing the area available for blood flow.
The most common side effect of a balloon valvuloplasty is valve regurgitation, in which the pulmonary valve leaks after the balloon is in place. But the benefits associated with the procedure usually outweigh the risk of valve regurgitation. Also, as with most procedures, there is a risk of bleeding, infection or blood clots. Serious complications are rare and most people can expect to return to normal activity afterward.
Condition Details :
Pulmonary valve stenosis is a condition in which the flow of blood from your heart to your lungs is obstructed by a deformed pulmonary valve.
The disorder is usually present at birth. Adults occasionally have pulmonary valve stenosis as a complication of another illness.
Pulmonary valve stenosis ranges from mild and without symptoms to severe and debilitating, with most cases being mild. Mild pulmonary stenosis doesn't usually worsen over time, but moderate and severe cases may progress and require surgery. Fortunately, treatment is highly successful, and most people with pulmonary valve stenosis can expect to lead normal lives. A common sign of pulmonary stenosis is a sound called a heart murmur — an abnormal whooshing sound caused by turbulent blood flow — that your doctor may hear when he or she listens to your heartbeat. Other signs and symptoms may include:
- Shortness of breath, especially during exertion
- Chest pain
- Loss of consciousness (fainting)
- Fatigue
- Poor weight gain (in babies)
