With pulmonary stenosis, the pulmonary valve is unable to open completely, so the blood flowing from the right ventricle to
the pulmonary artery is constricted. “Stenosis” refers to the narrowing of a passageway. The valve may be only slightly narrowed,
needing no treatment, or severely narrowed, needing treatment once the problem is diagnosed.
The constriction means that it is difficult for the right ventricle to pump the blood through the narrowing. Pulmonary stenosis
has been found in 8% to 10% of patients with congenital heart disease.
| Pulmonary Stenosis |
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| The pulmonary valve is narrowed, making it unable to open completely. The right ventricle has trouble pumping the blood through
the narrow opening, so the lungs receive less deoxygenated blood than they should.
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What are the symptoms of pulmonary stenosis?
In cases with severe narrowing, children may develop cyanosis and congestive heart failure. Babies who have this defect often
show no symptoms, but will have a heart murmur. An electrocardiogram, an echocardiogram, and a chest X-ray may be done to
diagnose the condition.
How is pulmonary stenosis treated?
Balloon dilation valvuloplasty, a stretching open of the valve during cardiac catheterization, may be done to widen the opening.
Children with more severe symptoms may need to undergo a surgical pulmonary valvotomy. With this procedure, the valve is surgically
widened, often with the use of a patch.
