@article {Lurz646, author = {P Lurz and J Nordmeyer and L Coats and A M Taylor and P Bonhoeffer and I Schulze-Neick}, title = {Immediate clinical and haemodynamic benefits of restoration of pulmonary valvar competence in patients with pulmonary hypertension}, volume = {95}, number = {8}, pages = {646--650}, year = {2009}, doi = {10.1136/hrt.2008.153379}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group Ltd}, abstract = {Objective: To analyse the potential benefit of restoration of pulmonary valvar competence in patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation (PR) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with congenital heart disease. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Tertiary paediatric and adult congenital heart cardiac centre. Interventions: Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI). Patients: All patients who underwent PPVI for treatment of PR in the presence of PH (mean PAP \>25 mm Hg). Results: Seven patients with severe PH as a result of congenital heart disease and severe PR underwent PPVI. The valve implantation procedure was feasible and uncomplicated in all seven cases, successfully abolishing PR. There was a significant increase in diastolic (15.4 (7.3) to 34.0 (8.5) mm Hg; p = 0.007) and mean (29.7 (8.1) to 41.3 (12.9) mm Hg; p = 0.034) pulmonary artery pressures, and an improvement in NYHA functional class (from median IV to median III; p\<0.008). Peripheral oxygen saturations rose from 85.9\% (11.0\%) to 91.7\% (8.3\%) (p = 0.036). Right ventricular (RV) volumes decreased (from 157.0 (44.7) to 140.3 (53.3) ml/m2), while effective RV stroke volume increased (from 23.4 (9.3) to 41.0 (11.6) ml/m2). During a median follow-up of 20.3 months (range 1.3{\textendash}47.5), valvar competence was well maintained despite near systemic pulmonary pressures. None of the valved stents were explanted during follow-up. Conclusion: Trans-catheter treatment of PR in patients with PH is well tolerated and leads to clinical and haemodynamic improvement, most probably caused by a combination of increased pulmonary perfusion pressures and RV efficiency.}, issn = {1355-6037}, URL = {https://heart.bmj.com/content/95/8/646}, eprint = {https://heart.bmj.com/content/95/8/646.full.pdf}, journal = {Heart} }