Long-term outcome after treatment of isolated pulmonary valve stenosis

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2010.10.038Get rights and content

Abstract

Background

Few data are available on very long-term follow-up after treatment for isolated pulmonary valve stenosis (PVS), either surgically or by percutaneous balloon angioplasty (PBA).

Methods and results

All patients with isolated PVS were selected from our database of congenital heart defects. Their records were reviewed systematically. We identified 79 surgically treated patients with a median follow-up of 22.5 years (range 0–45 years) and 139 PBA patients with median follow-up of 6.0 years (range 0–21 years). Echocardiographic and catheterization parameters indicate excellent results of both techniques in relieving the transpulmonary gradient. However, after initial surgery 20.3% of patients needed a cardiac re-intervention: 81% for severe pulmonary valve regurgitation, but none for residual pulmonary stenosis. After initial PBA a cardiac re-intervention was needed in 9.4% of patients. In 85% the indication was residual pulmonary stenosis, in none of them pulmonary regurgitation, although almost all patients developed a mild pulmonary regurgitation. Freedom of re-intervention after surgery was 98.4%, 93.5%, 87.7%, 70.9% and 55.7% at 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 years postoperatively. Freedom of re-intervention in the PBA group was 95.1%, 87.5% and 84.4% at 5, 10 and 20 years post-procedure.

Conclusions

Both surgery and PBA are safe and successful in relieving the acute transpulmonary gradient. Long-term results of surgery are worse than previously thought due to severe PR. After PBA re-interventions for residual stenosis are frequently needed and the incidence of mild PR is high. Very long-term results of PBA are still unknown.

Introduction

Pulmonary valve stenosis (PVS) is a common disorder and accounts for up to 10% of all congenital heart defects. Until a few decades ago, surgical intervention was the treatment of choice for a moderate to severe PVS. However, since the first balloon valvuloplasty has been performed in 1982 by Kan [1], it has been further established as a valuable alternative. Although isolated PVS is relatively common, few data are available on very long-term follow-up after treatment, either surgically or by balloon angioplasty. Therefore, we aimed at evaluating retrospectively the outcome of both PVS treatment choices in our centre.

Section snippets

Patients' selection

An automatic search in the database of all patients with congenital heart disease followed in our centre was performed. After looking for every case of PVS, those patients with isolated PVS were selected. Patients with associated anomalies (Table 1) were not considered for further analysis. Patients found to have a PVS in combination with a patent foramen ovale or atrial septal defect (ASD) without any further anomalies, were not excluded. Patients with Noonan syndrome were selected for

Selection of patients

In our centre's database, 120 patients underwent surgical repair for PVS between 1960 and 2009. Twenty-seven patients were excluded from further analysis because of associated anomalies, as listed in Table 1. The patient with mitral valve dysplasia also had a problem of left ventricular non-compaction. One patient had first undergone balloon angioplasty and in thirteen patients, no follow-up data were available. Subsequently, a total of 79 surgically treated patients were eligible for further

Surgery

Survival data after surgical repair for isolated PVS are excellent. In our series of 79 patients we reported two in-hospital fatal cases and one late death due to myocarditis, unrelated to the preceding surgical intervention. These results confirm the data found in the literature. In a series of 191 patients with a follow-up time between 20 and 30 years, a survival (excluding hospital mortality) of 90% was reported at 25 years postoperatively [2]. Life expectancy was normal in patients who

Conclusions

Both surgery and PBA have low mortality rates and appear to be successful in relieving the acute transpulmonary gradient. Life-long follow-up after surgery is warranted because long-term results are worse than previously thought, due to severe PR. After PBA re-interventions for pulmonary stenosis are more frequently needed and the incidence of mild PR is high. Long-term results of PBA are still unknown.

Acknowledgement

The authors of this manuscript have certified that they comply with the Principles of Ethical Publishing in the International Journal of Cardiology [18].

References (18)

  • J.S. Kan et al.

    Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty: a new method for treating congenital pulmonary valve stenosis

    New Engl J Med

    (1982)
  • S.L. Kopecky et al.

    Long-term outcome of patients undergoing surgical repair of isolated pulmonary valve stenosis. Follow-up at 20–30 years

    Circulation

    (1988)
  • C.D. Morris et al.

    25-year mortality after surgical repair of congenital heart defect in childhood. A population-based cohort study

    JAMA

    (1991)
  • J.W. Roos-Hesselink et al.

    Long-term outcome after surgery for pulmonary stenosis (a longitudinal study of 22–33 years)

    Eur Heart J

    (2006)
  • C.J. Hayes et al.

    Second Natural History Study of Congenital Heart Defects. Results of treatment of patients with pulmonary valvar stenosis

    Circulation

    (1993)
  • M.G. Earing et al.

    Long-term follow-up of patients after surgical treatment for isolated pulmonary valve stenosis

    Mayo Clin Proc

    (2005)
  • P. Stanger et al.

    Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty: results of the valvuloplasty and angioplasty of congenital anomalies registry

    J Cardiol

    (1990)
  • B.W. McCrindle et al.

    Long-term results after balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty

    Circulation

    (1991)
  • M.E. Fawzy et al.

    Long-term results (up to 17 years) of pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty in adults and its effects on concomitant severe infundibular stenosis and tricuspid regurgitation

    Am Heart J

    (2007)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (45)

View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text