Right Ventricular Functions in Patients Undergone Balloon Valvuloplasty for Isolated Pulmonary Valve Stenosis

Objective: Isolated pulmonary valve stenosis is the most common cause of the right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and balloon valvuloplasty (BVP) has been the treatment of choice in these subgroup of patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate right ventricular functions of patients who underwent BVP for PS using two-dimensional, pulse wave (PW) Doppler and tissue Doppler echocardiography during an average of 4 years (2 months-11 years) of follow-up period. Methods: 33 patients (11 female, 22 male; mean age with a mean age of 7.7 +/- 5.6 years) and age and gender-matched healthy 50 children were included in the study. The results of both groups were evaluated using 2-D PW-Doppler and tissue Doppler echocardiographies. Results: In our study, the two-dimensional echocardiography derived TAPSE, RVED and RVFAC values; PW Doppler echocardiography derived tricuspid E and A waves, E/A ratio, and ET; tricuspid S and E wave, E/A ratio and ET obtained from tissue Doppler echocardiography were found to be lower in the patient group. IVRT and IVCT values obtained from both tissue Doppler and PW Doppler echocardiography, and the Tei index, were found to be increased in the patient group. A mild degree of pulmonary insufficiency after BVP was present in 21.2% of the patient group. Conclusion: BVP appears to be a safe and effective option in the treatment of congenital pulmonary valve stenosis. Presence of residual stenosis after BVP is found to be associated with right ventricular failure. Increased Tei index showed the presence of decreased right ventricular systolic, and distolic functions in patients who underwent BVP for PS.