Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor as an additive treatment after successful balloon dilation of a critical pulmonary valve stenosis

Integrative Perinatal Management Enhanced the Advantage of Prenatal Diagnosis on Critical Pulmonary Valve Stenosis: An Observational Preliminary Study

Background: Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty (PBPV) is recommended as a first-choice treatment for critical pulmonary stenosis (CPS). A concept of perinatal integrative management has been developed. Unfortunately, the evidence on the advantage of integrative management for CPS during the perinatal period is absent. Methods: Single-center, observational, preliminary research has been developed, and three groups have been enrolled. There were 42 children with CPS enrolled for this study between January 2014 and December 2017 in our center, and their follow-up duration is at least 1 year. Three groups were set up: the integrative perinatal management group (group I), who received prenatal diagnosis with perinatal management to maintain circulation and an optimized PBPV procedure; the prenatal diagnosis group (group PR), who received a diagnosis of pulmonary stenosis before birth without any monitoring and perinatal management; and the postnatal diagnosis group (group PO), who received the CPS diagnosis after birth. Result: There were 13 patients enrolled in group I, 11 babies enrolled in group PR, and 18 cases included in group PO. Integrative management helped to put the timing of PBPV in advance. The age for PBPV in group I was 9.38 ± 5.58 days, and groups PR and PO were 24.54 ± 4.87 and 49.11 ± 9.50 days, respectively. The average peak transvalvular gradient (PGs) of the perinatal management group (group I) and prenatal diagnosis group (group PR) remained at a stable level. However, the average PGs of group PO were progressively elevated during follow-up. Moreover, the follow-up data from group I revealed an advantage in RV development and functional restoration. There was no difference among the three groups in the ratio of reintervention and postoperative moderate pulmonary regurgitation during 1-year follow-up (p >0.05). Conclusion: Prenatal diagnosis helps to improve the outcomes of PBPV. Moreover, perinatal integrative medical management enhances the advantage of prenatal diagnosis. However, this research is still a small-size cohort study, and the limited population number and follow-up duration were the major limitations to expand the conclusions.

Alpha blocker and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor in the management of severe pulmonary valve stenosis: from bench to bedside

INTRODUCTION

Neonates with severe pulmonary valve stenosis tend to remain oxygen dependent, despite resolution of the transpulmonary gradient. Alpha 2 blockers – phentolamine – and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors – captopril – were reported to improve oxygen saturation.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the role of phentolamine and captopril in the treatment of these patients.

METHODS

In a retrospective cohort study, 28 neonates with severe pulmonary valve stenosis underwent balloon valvuloplasty. Among them, 20 remained oxygen or prostaglandin dependent after intervention, and were treated with phentolamine or captopril. Oxygen saturation was monitored before and after intervention and following treatment with these medications. Mean duration of hospitalisation was recorded.

RESULTS

Mean age and weight were 25.2 days and 3.1 kg, respectively. Before balloon dilation, 18/20 (90%) neonates were on prostaglandin, whereas after the procedure only 6/18 patients required it. All 20 patients required oxygen after the procedure, and nine patients (45%) were started on phentolamine. Among them, one patient with severe infundibular stenosis did not respond favourably, and 11 patients (55%) were started on captopril. After starting phentolamine or captopril treatment, prostaglandin could be discontinued after a mean time of 15.86 hours. Within <2 days, there was an increase in mean oxygen saturation from 76.6 to 93.0%.

CONCLUSION

Phentolamine and captopril seem to have therapeutic roles in neonates with severe pulmonary valve stenosis who remain oxygen dependent after balloon dilation. Both drugs led to vasodilation of the pulmonary and systemic vascularisation and facilitated inflow to the right ventricle. Right-to-left shunt across a patent foramen ovale or atrial septal defect decreased and saturation improved, leading to a significant reduction in the length of hospitalisation.

Combined semilunar valve stenoses in neonates: management approaches and literature review

Combination of right and left ventricular outflow tracts obstruction is extremely rare. Neonates with combined aortic stenosis (AS) and pulmonary stenosis (PS) present in critical condition and required urgent treatment. The management approach is not well defined. We report five female neonates with combined AS and PS presented to our institute in the last 5 years, age (1-18 days), weight (2.2-3.4 kg). Two had associated muscular ventricular septal defects. The mean Doppler gradient across the aortic valve (AV) was 73 mmHg (53-105 mmHg) and across the pulmonary valve was 62 mmHg (44-76 mmHg). Three had balloon dilatation and one surgical repair. The fifth patient was managed conservatively, but had sudden cardiac death at age of 3 months. One patient arrived in shock and sepsis, underwent emergency balloon dilation of the AV in the ICU. Despite decreasing the gradient, she died next day after the procedure. The surviving children were well at median follow-up age of 3.4 years. This is an extremely rare combination which needs early intervention. The management approach is not well defined. Interventional catheterization is possibly the better option.