HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS CME ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Rapid Responses: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services E-mail this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My File Cabinet Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tingelstad, J. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tingelstad, J. B.

Percutaneous Balloon Valvuloplasty for Congenital Pulmonary Stenosis

Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty is an effective alternative to open-heart surgery for moderate and severe pulmonary valvular stenosis and is the treatment of choice for the typical form of this congenital heart defect in many medical centers. Standard right and left heart catheterizations with biplane cineangiocardiography to evaluate the anatomy and motion of the pulmonary valve are performed. If the criteria for balloon valvuloplasty are met, a balloon catheter is inserted in the vein and advanced so that the balloon straddles the stenotic pulmonary valve. The balloon is inflated by hand until the constriction caused by the stenosis disappears. The procedure is repeated to confirm the absence of the constriction and the catheter is removed. Balloon valvuloplasty is a safe procedure, and no fatalities or major morbidity have been reported.