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Absent pulmonary valve

Absent pulmonary valve

Overview

Absent pulmonary valve is a rare defect in which the pulmonary valve is either missing or poorly formed. The pulmonary valve allows oxygen-poor blood to travel from the heart to the lungs. When the pulmonary valve is missing, the branch pulmonary arteries are very enlarged and press down on the airways in the lung, causing breathing problems.

Review Date 2/27/2024

Updated by: Charles I. Schwartz, MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.