What is the pulmonary valve?
The pulmonary valve is the main outlet valve on the right side of the heart. It allows blue (deoxygenated) blood to leave the heart after the right ventricle has contracted. Once the blood has left the heart the pulmonary valve closes and stops any blood falling back into the right ventricle (right pump).
What is pulmonary stenosis?
This is a condition where the valve is thickened and does not open as easily or as well as it should.
What causes pulmonary stenosis?
Pulmonary stenosis is usually a congenital heart condition, in other words it developed in the womb and was present at birth. It is an abnormality of the pulmonary valve, meaning it does not open as it should. It is very rare to develop pulmonary valve stenosis in later life.
What are the treatment options available?
If your pulmonary stenosis is severe and causing symptoms you may be considered for a valve intervention procedure. This is most commonly a procedure known as a pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty, a keyhole procedure where the valve is stretched with a balloon under x-ray guidance.
If you are not suitable for a balloon valvuloplasty procedure then you may need an open heart operation, but this is rare.