Pulmonary Valve Stenosis

 Pulmonary valve stenosis is a condition characterized by obstruction to blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery. This obstruction is caused by narrowing (stenosis) at one or more points from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery. The most common form of pulmonary stenosis is obstruction at the valve itself, referred to as pulmonary valvar stenosis.

Pulmonary valve stenosis signs and symptoms vary, depending on the extent of the obstruction. People with mild pulmonary stenosis usually don't have symptoms. Pulmonary valve stenosis signs and symptoms may include Heart murmur - an abnormal whooshing sound heard using a stethoscope, caused by turbulent blood flow, Shortness of breath, especially during exertion, Chest pain, Loss of consciousness (fainting), Fatigue.

Statistical analysis on pulmonary valve stenosis in Netherlands was resulted as the mean pressure gradient decreased significantly more in the surgical group (from 64.8 +/- 30.8 mm Hg to 12.8 +/- 9.8 mm Hg at a mean follow-up of 9.8 years) than after BV (decreasing from 66.2 +/- 21.4 mm Hg to 21.5 +/- 15.9 mm Hg after a mean of 5.4 years; p < 0.001). Moderate pulmonary valve insufficiency occurred in 44% after surgery, and in 11% after BV (p < 0.001). Tricuspid valve insufficiency occurred in 2% after surgery, and in 5% after BV. Restenosis occurred in 3 surgical patients (5.6%), 2 patients required reoperation, and 1 patient required a balloon valvotomy. Restenosis developed in 13 BV patients (14.1%): 6 patients were redilated and 7 patients required surgery. Surgical valvotomy led to significantly less reinterventions than balloon valvuloplasty (p < 0.04).