Percutaneous implantation of a pulmonary valve in 3 children with surgically corrected cardiac anomalies

An 11-year-old girl, a 15-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl all underwent percutaneous implantation of a Melody pulmonary valve prosthesis to replace a stenotic and insufficient homograft in the pulmonary artery. Preoperatively, 2 of the children suffered from fatigue and dyspnoea on exertion The homografts had been implanted between the ages of 1-2, to establish surgical continuity between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery. The anomalies were tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum and pulmonary atresia with a ventricular septum defect. Percutaneous pulmonary valve replacement was successful in all 3 patients. After implantation, right ventricular pressure decreased to 30% of systemic pressure and regurgitation was not observed. All patients were discharged in a good condition on the day after the implantation. Percutaneous pulmonary valve replacement is a promising technique with good short-term results. In selected patients this percutaneous technique can substitute or postpone the surgical replacement ofa stenotic or insufficient homograft.