Acceptable size of the pulmonary valve ring in congenital cardiac defects

Abstract

Because congenital defects are being corrected at progressively younger ages, knowledge of the normal sizes of cardiac orifices and their acceptable limits is becoming increasingly important. A graphically corrected table of normal children's heights and pulmonary artery diameters is given. In addition, reasons are presented for the belief that a decrease in the cross-sectional area of up to 50% of normal may be considered acceptable during corrective procedures; in light of present knowledge any further decrease in cross-sectional area, in particular below 25% of normal, should probably not be left uncorrected.