Pulmonary valve stenosis is a common congenital heart disease in children. Both minimally invasive and surgical methods can be used for its treatment. The indication for treatment is a pressure gradient between the pulmonary trunk and the right ventricle of 50 mmHg or more.
Content
- Who may be a candidate for prosthetic pulmonary valve replacement?
- How is prosthetic pulmonary valve replacement performed?
- Revision prosthetic pulmonary valve replacement
The first replacement surgery is usually performed using open surgical techniques through an incision in the chest. Doctors implant predominantly biological prostheses to avoid the formation of blood clots. Repeated prosthetics can be performed using endovascular techniques without opening the chest.
You can seek medical attention at the University Hospital Essen, the University Hospital Ulm, or the University Hospital Oldenburg.
You are welcome to use the services of the medical tourism agency Booking Health to travel to Germany and undergo your treatment at one of the world's best hospitals. We will contact the hospital administration and make an appointment for your preferred dates. We will also book a hotel room and airline tickets, meet you at the German airport, and take you to the hospital by car. You will receive support throughout your stay in another country.
Who may be a candidate for prosthetic pulmonary valve replacement?
Prosthetic pulmonary valve replacement in Germany is not considered a first-choice treatment for stenosis in Germany. Whenever possible, cardiosurgery doctors perform a minimally invasive procedure for pulmonary valve repair called a balloon valvuloplasty. It does not require opening the chest. The advantages are high success rates and short recovery times.
Nevertheless, in the case of leaflet dysplasia, pulmonary valve stenosis treatment in Germany is performed using replacement surgery. This is a complicated open procedure that should only be performed at reputable clinics.
How is prosthetic pulmonary valve replacement performed?
Surgery is done through an incision in the chest with a connection to a heart-lung machine. Doctors implant an artificial heart valve instead of the patient's own inside the pulmonary trunk.
Pulmonary valve prostheses are almost always biological, not mechanical. This is due to the fact that the placement of mechanical prostheses may result in the formation of blood clots. The risk of their occurrence is higher than in the region of the heart valves in the left half of the heart. At the same time, the risk remains elevated, despite the constant use of anticoagulants.
Revision prosthetic pulmonary valve replacement
Biological artificial pulmonary valves last up to 10 years in children and up to 30 years in adult patients. In some patients, they may wear out sooner. If prosthetic dysfunction occurs, the previously implanted prosthesis must be replaced.
To do this, repeated open surgery is usually performed. In addition, pulmonary valve prosthetics in Germany can be performed using minimally invasive techniques through a small incision in the leg. A new artificial heart valve is implanted inside the old heart valve prosthesis. This innovative prosthetic technique reduces the number of open-heart surgeries patients undergo during their lifetime.
You are welcome to use the Booking Health service to undergo your treatment at one of the cardiosurgery departments in Germany. On our website, you can find out the surgical treatment cost and choose a medical care program at one of the hospitals with cardiosurgery departments at the best price. Our employees will help you select the most suitable clinic and organize your trip.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources:
European Society of Cardiology
JAHA - Journal of the American Heart Association
Medscape