Pulmonary Valve Stenosis

Signs and Symptoms

Children and adults with mild pulmonary stenosis often do not have any symptoms. However, if the condition is severe, symptoms may include:

• Low energy
• Poor feeding
• Rapid breathing
• Tiring early with exercise
• Turning blue, a condition called cyanosis

Diagnosis

Because there may be no symptoms, the first sign of pulmonary stenosis often is a heart murmur, an extra sound heard during a chest examination. To diagnose pulmonary stenosis, the following tests may be performed:

• Echocardiogram, a test that uses sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.
• Exercise stress test to test the effect of exercise on the heart.

Treatment

Treatment for pulmonary stenosis depends on the severity of the condition and age of the patient.

Babies, children and young adults may be treated in our Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory with a procedure called balloon valvuloplasty. This procedure involves a catheter — a thin, flexible, plastic tube — that's inserted into a blood vessel in the leg and then threaded through the blood vessel to the heart. A balloon at the tip of the catheter is inserted into the narrow opening in the valve and inflated to stretch the valve and separate the valve leaflets.

Balloon valvuloplasty has been very successful in treating pulmonary stenosis. In some cases, however, the valve is unusually thick and valvuloplasty is not effective. Then, surgery may be required.

It is important to note that patients who have pulmonary stenosis should take antibiotics to avoid heart infection during surgery or dental work.