[Pulmonary valvular subatresia with intact interventricular septum in a newborn infant: role of prostaglandins in the immediate postoperative period].

The case is reported of a newborn with pulmonary valvular subatresia and intact interventricular septum and moderate right ventricular hypoplasia, treated with pulmonary commissurotomy alone. In the immediate postoperative period the ductus arteriosus closed, resulting in deep hypoxia and acidosis. With the infusion of PG E2 the ductus reopened and the baby's condition improved markedly. The ductus was kept open for 20 days, during which time adaptation of the right ventricle must have occurred. Indeed, after definitive spontaneous closure of the ductus, right ventricular output proved sufficient to insure satisfactory pulmonary perfusion.