Pulmonary valvuloplasty as an alternative to surgery in the pediatric patient: implications for nursing

Recent innovations in the use of balloon catheters to dilate stenosis have made it possible to successfully perform balloon valvuloplasty (BV) on stenotic intracardiac valves. BV is fast becoming the treatment of choice for isolated valvular pulmonary stenosis (IVPS) in pediatric patients. IVPS and other obstructive lesions involving the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries occur in 25% to 30% of all persons with congenital heart disease. Current data suggest that use of BV for IVPS provides both short- and long-term hemodynamic relief and eliminates the need for open heart surgery. BV is also being used for other forms of congenital heart disease. Therefore, it is important for nurses in the pediatric setting to be aware of this technique and its implications. We review the anatomy, physiology, and clinical features of IVPS, the valvuloplasty procedure, and the nursing plan of care relevant to it.