Brock transventricular pulmonary valvotomy in patients with pulmonary stenosis: long-term results

As no long-term results of a blind opening up of the pulmonary valve either by balloon valvoplasty or closed Brock valvotomy have been published, we examined the outcome of 12 patients with valvar pulmonary stenosis 17 +/- 5 (11-22) years after surgery. The Brock valvotomy had been carried out at a mean age of 3 +/- 2.8 (0.2-8.5) years. The mean pressure gradient across the right ventricular outflow tract had been 116 +/- 45 (75-97) mmHg at the catheter study or 106 +/- 43 (40-160) mmHg as measured intraoperatively. The right ventricular pressure after the Brock procedure was measured in the operating room in five patients as 46 +/- 15 (30-60) mmHg. Seven patients had been recatheterized at a mean age of 9.5 +/- 2 (7-12.7) years; at that time the gradient across the pulmonary valve had been 20 +/- 14 (10-37) mmHg. At a mean age of 21.7 +/- 3 (15-26) years these and five further patients were reexamined by echo Doppler. This time the pressure gradient across the pulmonary valve was 13 +/- 6 (7-20) mmHg. Moderate pulmonary incompetence was present in four and mild incompetence in eight patients; two had mild tricuspid insufficiency. All except one patient, who had suffered a cerebrovascular accident before surgery, were in NYHA functional class 1 and pursuing a profession. From these data we conclude that the blind opening-up of the pulmonary valve achieves excellent long-term palliation.