Pulmonary Valve Stenosis—Child(Pulmonary Stenosis—Child)DefinitionIn a normal heart, blood flows from the body into the right atrium and on to the right ventricle. Blood is then pumped out of the heart through the pulmonary artery to the lungs. The blood picks up fresh oxygen in the lungs. Then the blood returns to the left atrium of the heart and goes into the left ventricle. There, it is pumped out through the aorta to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body. Heart Chambers and Valves Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. Blood Flow Through the Heart Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. Pulmonary valve stenosis is a heart defect. This defect happens when the pulmonary valve (the valve between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery) is thickened or partially fused. When this occurs, the valve does not work properly. Blood cannot move efficiently from the heart to the lungs. The condition can be mild to severe. Other heart defects may be present as well. CausesPulmonary stenosis is a congenital defect. This means that the baby is born with it. In most cases, it is not known exactly why the heart develops abnormally. Risk FactorsFor many heart defects, the risk factors are unclear. Risk factors for pulmonary valve stenosis may include:
SymptomsSymptoms may include:
Your doctor may also detect a heart murmur in your baby during a physical exam. These symptoms may be caused by other conditions. If your child has any of these, talk to the doctor right away. DiagnosisThe doctor will ask about your child’s symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Tests may include:
TreatmentTalk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for your child. Treatment options include: ProceduresOne type of procedure that can be done is called percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. During this procedure, a balloon is threaded up to the pulmonary valve. The balloon is inflated to stretch the valve and increase blood flow. In some cases, the valve can be widened with surgery, but in other cases, the valve will need to be replaced with a human or synthetic valve. Watchful WaitingIf the condition is mild, the doctor may choose to monitor your child’s health instead of doing surgery right away. Lifelong MonitoringYour child will need to have regular visits with a heart doctor. Depending on the severity of the condition and the treatment needed, your child may need to take antibiotics before medical or dental procedures to prevent a heart infection. PreventionWays to prevent heart defects are not entirely clear and may not always be possible. However, here are some things you can do reduce your risk of having a child with a heart defect: Get good prenatal care.
American Family Physician American Heart Association Canadian Cardiovascular Society Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada American Heart Association. Pulmonary valve stenosis. American Heart Association website. Available at: http://www.heart.o... . Accessed July 7, 2010. DynaMed Editors. Evaluation of the infant for congenital heart disease. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated April 14, 2010. Accessed July 7, 2010. Johns Hopkins University, Cove Point Foundation. Pulmonary stenosis. Johns Hopkins University, Cove Point Foundation website. Available at: http://www.pted.org/?id=pulmonarystenosis3 . Accessed July 7, 2010. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. Pulmonary stenosis. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford website. Available at: http://www.lpch.or... . Accessed July 22, 2010. Mayo Clinic. Atrioventricular canal defect. Mayo Clinic website. Available at: http://www.mayocli... . Accessed July 7, 2010. Last reviewed June 2012 by Kari Kassir, MD |
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