In this section
The Pulmonary Valve is thickened and narrowed leading to the development of abnormally high pressure in the right ventricle. The right ventricular wall becomes thickened ("Hypertrophied"). If the problem is severe it may require treatment which usually involves stretching the valve with a balloon catheter (Balloon Valvuloplasty)
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A heart catheter, with an inflatable balloon at the tip, is passed from a vein in the leg. When the tip is through the valve the balloon is inflated to stretch open the valve.
Usually this produces effective longterm relief of the obstruction. Some patients who are unsuitable for this type of procedure, or in whom it is unsuccessful, may require surgery to correct the problem.