OBJECTIVETo assess exercise capacity after percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (PBPV) in children with isolated pulmonary valve stenosis.

METHODSTreadmill exercise testing was performed in 46 children (6.3 +/- 3.1 years, ranging 1 to 12.5 years) with isolated pulmonary valve stenosis post PBPV and in 294 healthy children. Exercise capacity, change in heart rate, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram during exercise were observed.

RESULTSPost PBPV, the transvalvular gradient was below 25 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) in all patients. The mean work capacity in post PBPV children was about 90 percent of that in healthy children. Heart rate and blood pressure response to exercise is comparable to healthy children. Factors associated with exercise capacity include age at operation and the ratio of balloon/pulmonary valve diameter. Exercise-induced uniform ventricular premature contraction in 5 children post PBPV and no ST segment change was observed.

CONCLUSIONExercise capacity post percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty in children with isolated pulmonary valve stenosis was comparable to that in healthy children.