Pulmonary Valve StenosisSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
Pulmonic stenosis is a heart valve disorder that involves the pulmonary valve.
This is the valve separating the right ventricle (one of the chambers in the heart) and the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary artery carries oxygen-poor blood to the lungs.
Stenosis, or narrowing, occurs when the valve cannot open wide enough. As a result, blood flows less easily to the lungs.
Valvular pulmonary stenosis; Heart valve pulmonary stenosis; Pulmonary stenosis; Stenosis - pulmonary valve; Balloon valvuloplasty - pulmonary
Narrowing of the pulmonary valve is most often present at birth (congenital). It is caused by a problem that occurs as the baby develops in the womb before birth. The cause is unknown, but genes may play a role.
Narrowing that occurs in the valve itself is called valvular pulmonic stenosis. There may also be narrowing just before or after the valve.
The defect may occur alone or with other heart defects that are present at birth. The condition can be mild or severe.
Pulmonic stenosis is a rare disorder. In some cases, the problem runs in families.
Many cases of pulmonic stenosis are mild and do not cause symptoms. The problem is most often found in infants when a heart murmur is heard during a routine heart exam.
When the valve narrowing (stenosis) is moderate to severe, the symptoms include:
- Abdominal distention
- Bluish color to the skin (cyanosis) in some people
- Poor appetite
- Chest pain
- Fainting
- Fatigue
- Poor weight gain or faltering weight in infants with a severe blockage
- Shortness of breath
- Sudden death
Symptoms may get worse with exercise or activity.
Sometimes, treatment may not be needed if the disorder is mild.
When there are also other heart defects, medicines may be used to:
- Help blood flow through the heart (prostaglandins)
- Help the heart beat stronger
- Prevent clots (blood thinners)
- Remove excess fluid (water pills)
- Treat abnormal heartbeats and rhythms
Percutaneous balloon pulmonary dilation (valvuloplasty) may be performed when no other heart defects are present.
- This procedure is done through an artery in the groin.
- The doctor sends a flexible tube (catheter) with a balloon attached to the end up to the heart. Special x-rays are used to help guide the catheter.
- The balloon stretches the opening of the valve.
Some people may need heart surgery to repair or replace the pulmonary valve. The new valve can be made from different materials. If the valve cannot be repaired or replaced, other procedures may be needed.
ETSU Physicians & Associates- Pediatrics
Rajani Anand is a Pediatric Cardiologist practicing medicine in Johnson City, Tennessee. Dr. Anand is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Valve Stenosis. She is also highly rated in 18 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Pulmonary Supravalvular Stenosis, Pulmonary Valve Stenosis, Patent Ductus Arteriosus, and Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Dr. Anand is board certified in American Board Of Pediatrics.
Boston Childrens Heart Foundation Inc
Christina Ronai is a Pediatrics provider practicing medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. She has been practicing medicine for over 18 years. Dr. Ronai is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Valve Stenosis. She is also highly rated in 63 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Pulmonary Valve Stenosis, Pulmonary Atresia, Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), and Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Dr. Ronai is board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology.
Shigeru Miyagawa practices practicing medicine in Suita, Japan. Mr. Miyagawa is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Pulmonary Valve Stenosis. He is also highly rated in 32 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Cardiomyopathy, Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM), Heart Failure, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), and Heart Bypass Surgery.
People with mild disease rarely get worse. However, those with moderate to severe disease will get worse. The outcome is often very good when surgery or balloon dilation is successful. Other congenital heart defects may be a factor in the outlook.
Most often, the new valves can last for decades. However, some will wear out and need to be replaced.
Complications may include:
- Abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias)
- Death
- Heart failure and enlargement of the right side of the heart
- Leaking of blood back into the right ventricle (pulmonary valve regurgitation) after repair
Contact your provider if:
- You have symptoms of pulmonary valve stenosis.
- You have been treated or have untreated pulmonary valve stenosis and have developed swelling (of the ankles, legs, or abdomen), difficulty breathing, or other new symptoms.
Summary: Regenerative therapies could provide new ways of treating heart failure. Unlike many organs in the human body, such as the skin and the GI tract, the ability to regenerate heart muscle decreases after birth, but the precise timing of this decrease and how this decrease is altered in heart disease are uncertain. The investigators will use an innovative approach to quantify cellular heart regenerati...
Summary: This study will demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the Edwards Lifesciences SAPIEN 3/SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA Transcatheter Heart Valve (THV) Systems in subjects with a dysfunctional right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) conduit or previously implanted valve in the pulmonic position with a clinical indication for intervention.
Published Date: April 13, 2026
Published By: Mary C. Mancini, MD, PhD, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Shreveport, LA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Krieger EV, Dorfman AL, Babu-Narayan SV, Valente AM. Congenital heart disease in the adolescent and adult. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli, GF, et al, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 87.
Pellikka PA, Nkomo VT. Tricuspid, pulmonic, and multivalvular disease In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli, GF, et al, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 73.
Therrien J, Marelli AJ. Congenital heart disease in adults. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 55.