[Balloon valvuloplasty for the treatment of pulmonary stenosis in dogs].

Valvular pulmonic stenosis was diagnosed in three dogs with an age between four and eight months. The clinical signs related the severeness of the stenosis. The three dogs showed electrocardiographic and radiographic evidence of right ventricular enlargement. The haemodynamic assessment was based on Doppler echocardiography and cardiac catheterisation. The bloodflow above the pulmonic valve was 4.8; 5.8 and 6.0 m/sec; the systolic pressure gradient between the right ventricle and the pulmonic artery 115, 110 and 122 mmHg. Because of the severeness and localisation of the stenosis the three dogs underwent balloon valvuloplasty. After management the dogs showed a decrease of the systolic pressure gradient (40 and 45 mmHg) and a decrease of the transvalvular bloodflow (1.8; 2.1 and 4.4 m/sec). Some days after the intervention the dogs were clinically asymptomatic. This paper shows that balloon valvuloplasty is a proper technique for relief of valvular pulmonic stenosis in the dog.