Balloon Pulmonary Valvuloplasty in Children, One Year Follow-up Experience At Ramathibodi Hospital
PONGSAK KHOWSATHIT, M.D.*, AN ANT KHOSITSETH, M.D.*, BOONCHOB PONGPANICH, M.D.*
Affiliation : *Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
Abstract
Balloon valvuloplasty has become the treatment of choice in pulmonary valvular stenosis.
The objective of this report is to review the experience of this procedure in children at the Depart-
ment of Pediatrics, Ramathibodi Hospital in the past 4 years (1991 - 1994) with at least one year
follow-up.
During the study period, 19 children aged 2.1- 14.3 years (mean 5.11 years) with the diag-
nosis of pulmonary valvular stenosis had successful pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty at this
institution. The immediate peak systolic pressure gradient across the pulmonary valve by cardiac
catheterization decreased from 92.05 ± 46.92 to 34.26 ± 25.30 mmHg, by Doppler from 78.58 ±
26.55 to 34.83 ± 15.60 mmHg. Peak pressure gradient across the pulmonary valve by Doppler of
the last examinations, one to 4 years after the procedure (mean 1.9 years), was 23.05 ± 9.40
mmHg in 17 patients. The mean ratio of balloon size and pulmonary valve ring was 1.06. One
patient still has a residual gradient of 54 mmHg and two were lost to follow-up. No serious com-
plication was encountered during the procedures.
Conclusion: Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty is effective in the management of children
with valvular pulmonary stenosis. The intermediate term result is excellent.
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