Haemodynamic studies in congenital pulmonary arterial stenoses before and after removal of obstruction

In a group of 20 children with pulmonary arterial valvular stenosis the clinical and routine laboratory data were assessed before surgical correction and at intervals of 4-10 years afterwards. In all children successfully operated upon, the ECG signs of right ventricular hypertrophy disappeared. In 10 children of the group the haemodynamic indicators were determined in the postoperative period with the aid of right-heart microcatheterization at rest and during exercise. A success of the correction was manifested by a normalization of the pressure conditions in the right heart. Exercise did not raise them to pathological levels. A successful removal of the stenosis was also manifested by the actual values of the ejection volume and cardiac index, mainly in their increases during exercise. Heart microcatheterization proved to be an expedient method for determining the haemodynamic indicators at rest and during exercise in the long-term follow-up of patients after surgical correction of congenital pulmonary arterial stenosis as one of defects with a good postoperative outlook.