Percutaneous Transluminal Pulmonary Valvuloplasty in Children

Percutaneous pulmonary valvuloplasty was performed in 16 patients with congenital pulmonary valve stenosis. Balloon size used in the procedure was limited with the diameter of the pulmonary annulus during the first period of the study between 1986-1988. Although the transvalve gradient decreased significantly in all except one child, it was more than 40 mmHg in four of six patients. Oversize balloons were used for pulmonary valvuloplasty after 1988. Nine patients were treated during this period. Better results were provided with a transvalve gradient fall below 42 mmHg in all but two patients in whom right ventricular cineangiography showed infundibular spasm. These findings suggest that using oversize balloon in pulmonary valvuloplasty appears to obviate the need for surgery without major complications.