Pulmonary stenosis

After reporting your symptoms to your doctor, you may be referred to a cardiologist. This type of doctor is a heart specialist. They’ll check your physical condition with a thorough examination. This includes listening to your heart for any abnormal sounds. You may need imaging tests to show what’s going on inside your heart.

Here are some of the imaging tests your cardiologist may order:

MRI scan. MRIs create highly detailed images of internal body structures.

CT scan. This test takes cross-sectional images of internal body structures.

Chest X-ray. This type of X-ray creates images of the heart, lungs, airways, blood vessels, and bones in your spine and chest.

Echocardiogram. This test provides video images of your heart.

Cardiac catheterization. This test uses dye to highlight any blockages in the heart.

If you have mild pulmonary valve stenosis without symptoms, you may only need occasional doctor's checkups.

If you have moderate or severe pulmonary valve stenosis, you may need a heart procedure or heart surgery. The type of procedure or surgery you have depends on your overall health and the appearance of your pulmonary valve.

Heart procedures and surgery used to treat pulmonary valve stenosis include:

Balloon valvuloplasty. The doctor inserts a flexible tube (catheter) with a balloon on the tip into an artery, usually in the groin. X-rays are used to help guide the catheter to the narrowed valve in the heart. The doctor inflates the balloon, which widens the valve opening, and separates the valve flaps, if needed. The balloon is then deflated. The catheter and balloon are removed.

Valvuloplasty may improve blood flow through the heart and reduce pulmonary valve stenosis symptoms. However, the valve may narrow again. Some people need valve repair or replacement in the future.

Pulmonary valve replacement. If balloon valvuloplasty isn't an option, open-heart surgery or a catheter procedure may be done to replace the pulmonary valve. If there are other congenital heart defects, the doctor can often repair those during the same surgery.

People who have had pulmonary valve replacement need to take antibiotics before certain dental procedures or surgeries to prevent endocarditis.