Prognostic Considerations in Primary Isolated Insufficiency of the Pulmonic Valve

Abstract

RAPID advances in surgery have made an understanding of the significance of any potentially correctable valvular defect as important as the ability to establish an exact diagnosis. As an isolated abnormality, incompetence of the pulmonic valve is rare. So few proved and adequately studied cases have been reported^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8} that it is difficult to draw conclusions regarding the natural course of this lesion. It has not been shown that uncomplicated pulmonic-valve regurgitation leads to failure of the right side of the heart. The degree to which this valvular lesion modifies the prognosis of complicating cardiopulmonary lesions is not certain. Major stress . . .