Pulmonary (valve) stenosis (PVS, PS)

At Children’s Hospital Boston, we know that the first step in treating your child is forming an accurate and timely diagnosis.
 

The exam

If your newborn baby or young child is experiencing symptoms, your pediatrician will refer you to a pediatric cardiologist, who will perform a physical exam. The cardiologist will listen to your baby’s heart and lungs, measure the oxygen level in his blood (non-invasively) and make other observations that help to determine the diagnosis.

Your Children’s cardiologist will hear a heart murmur—a noise heard through the stethoscope that’s caused by the turbulence of blood flow. The location in the chest where the murmur is best heard, as well as the sound and character of the murmur itself, will give the cardiologist an initial idea of the kind of heart problem your baby may have.
 

The tests

One or both of the following medical tests will also used to diagnose your child’s pulmonary valve stenosis:

• electrocardiogram (EKG): An EKG is used to evaluate the electrical activity of your child’s heart. It is performed by placing electrodes on the arms, legs and chest to record the electrical activity. The test takes five minutes or less and involves no pain or discomfort. 
• cardiac ultrasound (echocardiogram): An echocardiogram evaluates the structure and function of your child’s heart using electronically recorded sound waves that produce a moving picture of the heart and heart valves. If your baby has pulmonary valve stenosis, the ultrasound will reveal the malformed pulmonary valve. No discomfort is involved. The procedure typically takes 30-60 minutes.