Patient
Information
Pulmonary Stenosis
What is it?
Pulmonary stenosis is tightness in the flow of blood between the
right pumping chamber (right ventricle) and the lungs. The
tightness is usually at the level of the pulmonary valve (valvar
pulmonary stenosis), but sometimes there can be tightness before
or after the valve as well. Pulmonary stenosis is a very common
heart problem in children, and probably accounts for about 10% of
all heart problems diagnosed during childhood.
What does it do?
In most children, pulmonary stenosis is mild, and has no important
effect on the way the heart works. If pulmonary stenosis is severe,
it causes a lot of extra work for the right ventricle, which can
lead to problems such as cyanosis (low blood oxygen), arrhythmias
(irregular heart rhythms) and congestive heart failure
(higher-than-normal pressure in the veins). Pulmonary stenosis can
get worse with time; generally mild pulmonary stenosis only
progresses in the first 5-6 months of life – after that progression
of mild pulmonary stenosis is rare. Moderate or severe pulmonary
stenosis can progress throughout life.
How is it treated?
Mild or moderate pulmonary stenosis usually does not require any
treatment. Generally mild to moderate pulmonary stenosis can
be monitored by your cardiologist by listening through a
stethoscope, although in some cases an echocardiogram (ultrasound)
may be necessary from time to time. Severe pulmonary stenosis may
require correction, either with a catheterization procedure using a
balloon to open the tight valve, or (much less commonly) open heart
surgery.
Below are some Internet sites that include more
information about pulmonary stenosis. I cannot vouch for the
information in these sites, but I have tried to pick out examples
that are of relatively good quality.
American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1321
A good site to see a brief description of the different types of
heart disease and the treatments available
Children's Hospital Boston
http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site512/mainpageS512P0.html
Lucile Packard Children's
Hospital at Stanford
http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/cardiac/ps.html
eMedicine
http://www.emedicine.com/PED/topic1953.htm
Updated 2/18/11 |
