Objective: To determine factors influencing immediate and medium-term results of Pulmonary Balloon Valvuloplasty
(PBV) for pulmonary valve stenosis.
Material and Method: Between 1995 and 2001, the authors carried out PBV in 25 consecutive patients. Two
treatment outcomes including immediate and medium-term results were analyzed. The immediate results were
classified into two groups based on the pulmonary systolic pressure gradient (PG) immediately after dilation:
group I with a PG ≤ 35 mmHg and group II with a PG > 35 mmHg. At medium-term follow-up of 6 to 60 months,
echocardiographic evaluations were analyzed and divided into two groups: group A with a PG ≤ 25 mmHg
and group B with a PG > 25 mmHg. Demographic characteristics and hemodynamic parameters of immediate
and medium-term results were compared and analyzed.
Results: Immediately after PBV, the right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) decreased from 115.3 37.6
mmHg to 67.0 28.5 mmHg (p < 0.001). The pulmonary systolic pressure gradient decreased from 90.4 37.9
mmHg to 39.3 25.6 mmHg (p < 0.001). Nine of the 25 patients (group II; 36%), with incomplete immediate
relief of the obstruction, had more symptoms, a higher baseline PG, higher right atrial pressure, higher RVSP,
and a higher systolic pressure ratio. Six of the 25 patients (group B; 24%), with suboptimal medium-term
results, had a higher right ventricular voltage on the electrocardiogram, higher pre-dilation PG, and higher
RVSP.
Conclusion: Successful medium-term outcomes following pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty were achieved in
76% of the patients, with a greater success rate (91%) in patients with a lower right ventricular voltage
electrocardiogram (R wave amplitude in V1) ≤ 21 mm, a prevalvuloplasty systolic gradient ≤ 90 mmHg, and
right ventricular systolic pressure ≤ 125 mmHg.

Keywords: Pulmonary valve stenosis, Valvuloplasty, Outcome