Some Effects of Partial Pulmonary Valvectomy

Abstract

Partial pulmonary valvectomy was performed in 19 dogs. No change in pulmonary arterial pulse pressure was seen when less than one valvular cusp was removed; frequently no change was observed when an entire cusp was removed. Widening of the pulmonary arterial pulse pressure could be produced by removal of more than one cusp or by inducing pulmonary hypertension after removal of only one cusp. Observation as long as six months postoperatively revealed no evidence of right ventricular failure resulting from the operation.