Balloon Valvulotomies

Balloon valvulotomies conducted in well-compensated infants and children can often be accomplished without anesthetic support. Exceptions include neonates with critical aortic or pulmonary stenosis and patients with significant ventricular dysfunction who exhibit unstable hemodynamics.

Figure 51-18 A, Severe bilateral branch pulmonary artery stenoses at the distal end of a conduit in a patient with pulmonary trunk atresia and ventricular septal defect. Stents were placed in the right and left pulmonary arteries. B, Follow-up angiogram in the same projection and magnification showed marked improvement of both right and left stenoses.