Pulmonic Stenosis Treatment & Management

  • Author: Xiushui (Mike) Ren; Chief Editor: Richard A Lange, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 4, 2012
 

Surgical Care

  • Traditionally, pulmonic stenosis (PS) was treated by surgical valvotomy.
  • Since its introduction in 1982, percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty has become the initial intervention in children, adolescents, and adults with congenital valvar PS. Balloon valvuloplasty should be considered in any patient with a transvalvular pressure gradient greater than 50 mm Hg.
  • Occasionally, balloon valvuloplasty is not successful. These patients tend to have valvular dysplasia (eg, Noonan syndrome) or a hypoplastic pulmonic valve annulus and, therefore, may require surgical valvotomy.
  • Pulmonary artery balloon angioplasty with or without placement of an expandable metal stent can be used to treat supravalvular PS and PPS.
  • Expandable metal stents can overcome an obstruction successfully; however, the need for stent reexpansion as the individual grows remains problematic.
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Activity

Pregnancy

Avoidance of vigorous exercise in pregnancy is recommended, especially during the second half of pregnancy in patients with moderate or severe gradients.

One study found that pregnant patients with PS had favorable outcomes and low maternal and fetal complications. This is in contrast to left heart obstructive lesions such as aortic and mitral stenosis.[2]

Athletes

Athletes with mild PS and gradients less than 50 mm Hg have no activity limitations. Those with more severe PS can participate in low-intensity competitive sports.

For more details, see Special Concerns.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Xiushui (Mike) Ren  MD, Cardiovascular Physician, Department of Cardiology, Kaiser Medical Center; Associate Director of Research, Cardiovascular Diseases Fellowship, California Pacific Medical Center

Xiushui (Mike) Ren is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Cardiology, and American Society of Echocardiography

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Lauralyn B Cannistra, MD, FACC  Director of Echocardiography Lab and Cardiac Rehabilitation, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Brown University School of Medicine

Lauralyn B Cannistra, MD, FACC is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Society of Echocardiography, and Rhode Island Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Park W Willis IV, MD  Sarah Graham Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

Park W Willis IV, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Echocardiography

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Marschall S Runge, MD, PhD  Charles and Anne Sanders Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Chairman, Department of Medicine, Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

Marschall S Runge, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Cardiology, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Federation for Medical Research, American Heart Association, American Physiological Society, American Society for Clinical Investigation, American Society for Investigative Pathology, Association of American Physicians, Association of Professors of Cardiology, Association of Professors of Medicine, Southern Society for Clinical Investigation, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Pfizer Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Orthoclinica Diagnostica Consulting fee Consulting

Amer Suleman, MD  Private Practice

Amer Suleman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Heart Association, American Institute of Stress, American Society of Hypertension, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, Royal Society of Medicine, and Society of Cardiac Angiography and Interventions

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Richard A Lange, MD  Professor and Executive Vice Chairman, Department of Medicine, Director, Office of Educational Programs, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Richard A Lange, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and Association of Subspecialty Professors

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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Pulmonic stenosis. Echocardiogram of a patient with severe pulmonic stenosis. This image shows a parasternal short axis view of the thickened pulmonary valve.
Pulmonic stenosis. Echocardiogram of a patient with severe pulmonic stenosis. This image shows a Doppler scan of the peak velocity (5.2 m/s) and gradients (peak 109 mm Hg, mean 65 mm Hg) across the valve.
Pulmonic stenosis. Echocardiogram of a patient with severe pulmonic stenosis. This image shows that moderately severe pulmonary insufficiency (orange color flow) is also present.
This video is an echocardiogram of a patient with severe pulmonic stenosis. The first segment shows the parasternal short axis view of the thickened pulmonary valve. The second segment shows the presence of moderate pulmonary insufficiency (orange color flow).AV=Aortic valve, PV=Pulmonary valve, PA=Pulmonary artery, PI=Pulmonary insufficiency
 
 
 
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