Skip to main content

Condition

Pediatric Pulmonary Stenosis

Anatomy of the heart, view of the valves

Pulmonary stenosis is a congenital (present at birth) defect that occurs due to abnormal development of the prenatal heart during the first eight weeks of pregnancy.

The pulmonary valve is found between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. It has three leaflets that function like a one-way door, allowing blood to flow forward into the pulmonary artery, but not backward into the right ventricle.

With pulmonary stenosis, problems with the pulmonary valve make it harder for the leaflets to open and permit blood to flow forward from the right ventricle to the lungs in a normal fashion. In children, these problems can include:

  • A valve that has leaflets that are partially fused together.

  • A valve that has thick leaflets that do not open all the way.

  • The area above or below the pulmonary valve is narrowed.

There are four different types of pulmonary stenosis:

  • Valvar pulmonary stenosis. The valve leaflets are thickened and/or narrowed 

  • Supravalvar pulmonary stenosis. The pulmonary artery just above the pulmonary valve is narrowed

  • Subvalvar (infundibular) pulmonary stenosis. The muscle under the valve area is thickened, narrowing the outflow tract from the right ventricle

  • Branch peripheral pulmonic stenosis. The right or left pulmonary artery is narrowed, or both may be narrowed

Illustration of pulmonary stenosis

Pulmonary stenosis may be present in varying degrees, classified according to how much obstruction to blood flow is present. A child with severe pulmonary stenosis could be quite ill, with major symptoms noted early in life. A child with mild pulmonary stenosis may have few or no symptoms, or perhaps none until later in adulthood. A moderate or severe degree of obstruction can become worse with time.

Pulmonary stenosis is a component of half of all complex congenital heart defects.

Pulmonary stenosis accounts for 5 to 10 percent of all congenital heart defect cases.

Appointments

Our team is standing by to schedule your child’s appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes pulmonary stenosis in children?

Why is pulmonary stenosis a concern in children?

What are the symptoms of pulmonary stenosis in children?

How is pulmonary stenosis diagnosed in children?

What is the treatment for pulmonary stenosis in children?

What can I expect after my child's pulmonary stenosis procedure?

What is the long-term outlook after pulmonary stenosis repair in children?

Baby being held and provider is using a stethoscope to diagnose.

Cardiac Surgery at Children's National Hospital

The pediatric heart surgery team at Children's National Hospital performs twice the number of surgeries of any other hospital in the region, with some of the best outcomes in the nation. Discover more about the treatment we offer.

Baby being held and provider is using a stethoscope to diagnose.
Girl Smiling and Clapping

Help Kids and Make a Difference

Invest in future cures for some of life's most devastating diseases. Give today to help more children grow up stronger.

Girl Smiling and Clapping

PATIENT STORY

Penelope's Story

Providers Who Treat Pulmonary Stenosis

    Departments that Treat Pulmonary Stenosis

    A prenatal practitioner meets with a pregnant patient.

    Prenatal Cardiology Program

    Children diagnosed with heart conditions before they are born receive comprehensive, expert care from our fetal cardiology specialists. Learn more about our Prenatal Cardiology Program.

    Dr. Harahsheh checks pulse of patient.

    Cardiology

    The pediatric heart experts at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., provide advanced care for unborn babies, children and young adults with heart conditions.

    Provider checking young boys breathing

    Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

    Our pediatric heart surgery team performs twice the number of surgeries of any other hospital in the region, with some of the best outcomes in the nation.