[Non-surgical treatment of pulmonary valve stenosis]

Percutaneous pulmonary valve valvuloplasty was attempted 17 times in 16 infants and children aged 15 days to 18 years. Valvuloplasty was performed during cardiac catheterization without general anesthesia. Balloon catheter was positioned across the pulmonary valve using a guide wire previously introduced in the right or left pulmonary artery. All patients experienced a decrease in the right ventricular peak systolic pressure from 111.5 +/- 35.9 to 69 +/- 28.9 mmHg (p less than 0.001), a decrease in the ratio of right ventricular pressure to systemic systolic pressure from 1.08 +/- 0.34 to 0.65 +/- 0.28 (p less than 0.001) and a decrease in right ventricular to pulmonary artery gradient from 88.52 +/- 37.2 to 54.82 +/- 29.4 mmHg (p less than 0.001). A child with a history of postoperative seizures had convulsions after the procedure and died 72 hours later. Four other patients are considered as a failure of the technique, 4 had clear hemodynamic improvement but right ventricular pressure remained above 50 mmHg, and 8 had satisfactory relief of their stenosis with a right ventricular pressure below or equal to 50 mmHg and a right ventricular to pulmonary artery gradient below 30 mmHg. These good results were confirmed in 2 patients, one year after the dilatation. Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty is probably now the best treatment for pulmonary valvular stenosis. Short-term and results at distance from the procedure are good, and morbidity and cost are less than those for a surgical cure.