Transcatheter pulmonary valve insertion, expanded use (beyond large conduits from the right ventricle to pulmonary artery), and future directions

Abstract

Transcatheter pulmonary valve insertion is the most important advance in congenital interventional cardiology since atrial septal defect devices became commonly available 15 years ago. It has changed the way we look at a number of diverse diagnoses and changes how we plan, diagnose, operate, and follow-up patients. It has changed how we counsel families expecting a child that may benefit from it. Expanded use of the Melody^® valve, outside its United States Food and Drug Administration approved indications, has helped numerous additional patients. The use of transcatheter pulmonary valve insertion in selected patients following surgical Gore-tex^® bileaflet in valve right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction and those with a history of prior small homograft conduits will be discussed.