Hemodynamic Effects of Valvulotomy in Pulmonic Stenosis

Seven patients with mild to moderate pulmonic stenosis with intact ventricular septum were subjected to cardiac catheterization before and from 4 to 18 months after pulmonary valvulotomy. Despite uniform clinical improvement, remarkably slight changes were observed, following surgery, in right ventricular pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary artery flow, and pulmonary valve area, when measured at rest. When present preoperatively, venoarterial shunt was reduced or eliminated after operation. It was speculated that further studies including the effect of exercise might show that valvulotomy increases the mobility of the valve under stress even when it does not increase valve area at rest.