What is severe pulmonary valve stenosis in newborns?
Pulmonary valve stenosis is a heart problem that a baby is born with (congenital heart disease).
The word "pulmonary" means "of the lungs." The heart pumps blood through the pulmonary valve to the lungs. This blood picks up oxygen in the lungs.
"Stenosis" means "narrowed." So in pulmonary valve stenosis, this valve is too small. This makes the heart work harder, and less blood gets to the lungs. In severe cases, the blood going out to the body doesn't have enough oxygen.
In a small number of newborns, pulmonary valve stenosis may be found with other problems like abnormal blood vessels.
What are the symptoms of mild pulmonary valve stenosis in newborns?
Many cases are mild and cause no symptoms. In more severe cases, the baby may have a blue tint to the skin. The baby may also breathe faster and tire easily with physical exertion and during feeding. This is because not enough oxygen is getting to the baby's body.
How is mild pulmonary valve stenosis in newborns diagnosed?
Your doctor may hear abnormal heart sounds, such as a heart murmur, when examining your newborn.
Your doctor will order tests to find the cause of abnormal heart sounds or of symptoms. The most common test is an echocardiogram, or "echo" for short. It uses sound waves to make an image of your baby's heart.
Your baby may have other tests to find the problem, such as an EKG (electrocardiogram) or a chest X-ray. Another test may look at the amount of oxygen in the blood.
A fetal ultrasound, which looks at the baby's heart, may find this problem before birth.
How is mild pulmonary valve stenosis in newborns treated?
Many mild cases do not need treatment. But stenosis may get worse. So your child will need regular checkups.
In more serious cases, treatment may include a procedure to stretch the valve so that it is more open. Sometimes surgery is done to repair or replace the valve.
Your doctor will explain what symptoms to watch for at home. Regular checkups will help your doctor watch your baby for symptoms over time.
How can you care for your newborn who has pulmonary valve stenosis?
Your doctor will make sure that you have all the information you need to take care of your baby. Your child's care team can show you how to help your baby. You can also ask the hospital staff about counseling and support.
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