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Peripheral Pulmonic Stenosis (PPS) is the narrowing in the pulmonary arteries that take blood from the heart to the lungs. This is common in babies and usually goes away on its own.
The narrowing develops because before birth, there is less blood flow to the lungs. Before birth the placenta provides oxygen to the baby. After birth, when breathing, the lungs and the pulmonary arteries have a lot more blood flowing through them. The arteries are narrow until they grow and relax. When the arteries are slightly narrow, blood flowing through them can make an extra noise. This is a heart murmur and may be heard when someone listens to the baby's heart. Heart murmurs caused by PPS are common in young babies.
Signs and Symptoms
A murmur may be heard when listening to the heart. This is caused by the blood speeding up through the arteries to the lungs. Usually, the infant will have no other symptoms.
Testing
A member of the health care team will do a complete exam and a health history. Sometimes a heart ultrasound may be done.
Treatment
Usually, a baby needs no treatment for PPS. If a murmur is still heard after six months of age, the baby may need to be checked in pediatric cardiology. Most of the time, the murmur isn't heard after six months of age. The arteries will have grown and there is no further narrowing.
