Causes and risk factors
The pulmonary valve is made up of 3 thin pieces of tissue called leaflets. These leaflets open to allow the blood to be pumped from right ventricle to pulmonary artery and close to prevent backflow of blood. In Pulmonary valve stenosis, during foetal development, the pulmonary valve fails to develop properly. The leaflets of the valve are too thick or unseperated from each as a result they do not open properly hampering the normal blood flow. Causes of Pulmonary valve stenosis are congenital heart disease, Carcinoid syndrome, Rheumatic heart disease.
Clinical presentation
Many times patient is asymptomatic in case of mild stenosis. In moderate or severe stenosis patient may present with following signs and symptoms – heart murmur, shortness of breath on exertion, fatigue, chest pain, and loss of consciousness, palpitations, cyanosis, and swelling in the legs.
Investigation
Medical history by the patient and Clinical examination by the doctor helps in diagnosis. A cardiac murmur can be easily heard on a stethoscope on auscultation which will suspect pulmonary valve stenosis. Chest X ray, ECG, Echocardiography, MRI, cardiac catherization will confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
Treatment depends upon the severity of disease. No treatment is required for asymptomatic patients or in cases of mild stenosis. Symptomatic treatment and supportive care is given to manage the patient. Regular careful monitoring will help to prevent complications. In severe cases treatment involves balloon valvuloplasty or open heart surgery. Avoidance of physical exertion in children is advised for larger stenosis. Medications that help in case of valvular stenosis are those which increase the heart contractions, reduce the blood volume and regularise heartbeats.
Other Modes of treatment
The other modes of treatment can also be effective in treating pulmonary valve stenosis.
Homoeopathy is a science which deals with individualization considers a person in a holistic way. This science can be helpful in combating the symptoms. Similarly the ayurvedic system of medicine which uses herbal medicines and synthetic derivates are also found to be effective in treating pulmonary valve stenosis.
Recent updates
Researches have been made in surgical robotics and ultrasound guided intracardiac surgery and tissue engineering to stimulate the growth of new tissue to repair congenital defects.
