Pulmonary Valve Stenosis

Pulmonary Valve Stenosis

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

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.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007