Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Implantation (PPVI)

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) is recognized as a feasible and low risk alternative to surgery to treat dysfunctional right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) after repair of congenital heart disease (CHD). This innovative non-surgical technique for valve implantation in pulmonary position was introduced to the field of congenital cardiology for the first time more than 20 years ago by use of a fresh bovine jugular vein containing a native valve sutured into a vascular stent (the so-called Melody transcatheter pulmonary valve (PV)). Over the years other transcatheter heart valve (THV) products evolved progressively, such as the Edwards Sapien THV, and are now widely used to replace PVs in adult and pediatric patients who suffer from PV stenosis or moderate to severe PV regurgitation caused by various CHD.