Invasive intrauterine treatment of pulmonary atresia/intact ventricular septum with heart failure.

The mortality and morbidity of children with pulmonary atresia/intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS) are linked to the degree of right ventricular (RV) hypoplasia. Opening up the pulmonary valve (PV) in fetal life could result in improved growth of the RV making it amenable to biventricular repair postnatally. Successful valvulotomy of the PV was performed in a fetus with heart failure at 28 weeks. Following the procedure there was significant growth of the tricuspid valve and RV. The neonate was delivered at 38 weeks with a RV suitable for biventricular repair. In utero pulmonary valvulotomy is feasible and may change the natural history of the condition in affected fetuses with PA/IVS. Copyright 2003 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.