Acute Pulmonary Reperfusion Hemorrhage: A Rare Complication After Oversized Percutaneous Balloon Valvuloplasty for Pulmonary Valve Stenosis

Balloon valvuloplasty became the treatment of choice for valvular pulmonary stenosis following its first description in 1982 by Kan et al, and has almost replaced surgical pulmonary valvotomy in the present day. It is a safe and effective method for children for relief of right ventricular obstruction. The results of the procedure are excellent, without significant complications. This report describes the case of a 12-year-old boy who received successful balloon valvuloplasty for critical pulmonary valve stenosis complicated by an episode of acute pulmonary hemorrhage. Because of cyanosis, hypotension and bradycardia, he received emergent endotracheal intubation with 100% oxygen supplement and the highest infusion rate of inotropic agents. Venoarterial mode extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was indicated for life support due to the persistent high oxygenation index. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation played a key role in the survival of this patient during the course of treatment. [J Chin Med Assoc 2009;72(11):607-610]