Pulmonary Valve Repair and Replacement

Most cases of pulmonary valve pathology are either stenotic or regurgitant; this may be secondary to congenital heart disease, namely conotruncal anomalies, or pulmonary hypertension. Surgical treatment of pulmonary regurgitation is with valve replacement. In cases of pulmonary stenosis, patients can be treated with a variety of techniques based on the underlying anatomy including balloon valvuloplasty, surgical valvotomy, and replacement. Right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits can be required for complex conotruncal anomalies. A very small number of congenital heart disease patients present with pulmonary atresia, which requires complex surgical management.