Complications

Possible complications of pulmonary stenosis include:

• Infection of the lining of the heart (infective endocarditis). People with heart valve problems, such as pulmonary stenosis, have an increased risk of developing bacterial infections that affect the inner lining of the heart.
• Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). People with pulmonary stenosis are more likely to have an irregular heartbeat. Unless the stenosis is severe, irregular heartbeats due to pulmonary stenosis usually aren't life-threatening.
• Thickening of the heart muscle. In severe pulmonary stenosis, the heart's right ventricle must pump harder to force blood into the pulmonary artery. The strain on the heart causes the muscular wall of the ventricle to thicken (right ventricular hypertrophy).
• Heart failure. If the right ventricle can't pump properly, heart failure eventually develops. Symptoms of heart failure include fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling of the legs and abdomen.
• Pregnancy complications. The risks of complications during labor and delivery are higher for those with severe pulmonary valve stenosis than those without the condition.