A pulmonary artery stent is a small tube made of a wire mesh material. A stent is used to open the pulmonary artery when it is too narrow and is a type of treatment that may be used for pulmonary artery stenosis. Exercising can usually be resumed several days after a pulmonary artery stent procedure. Your doctor should provide you with specific instructions regarding a time frame and acceptable activities.
Pulmonary Artery Stenosis
Pulmonary artery stenosis is a narrowing that occurs in the pulmonary artery, which carries blood that needs oxygen from the right heart ventricle to the lungs. Pulmonary artery stenosis causes the right ventricle to work harder, resulting in enlargement and a potentially dangerous increase in pressure. The condition is a congenital heart heart defect present at birth. It can also be caused by a rubella infection acquired from the mother before birth or from Williams syndrome. Pulmonary artery stenosis causes symptoms when the artery is more than 50 percent blocked. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, heavy breathing, rapid breathing and heart rate and swelling of facial features and various extremities. If symptoms are present, the condition usually requires treatment.
Treatment
Treatment for pulmonary artery stenosis is usually provided for a child but may be an adult intervention if the condition is newly diagnosed or causing symptoms. The stent is put into the pulmonary artery and expanded and anchored using an inflatable balloon. A cardiologist places the stent during a heart catheterization or surgery. A stent enters the body via a catheter that is moved through an artery in the groin to the pulmonary artery. The navel is the spot of entry for a newborn. After the procedure, the patient lays flat in bed and is monitored frequently for several hours. The length of hospitalization depends on the patient's condition.
Exercise
Following surgery or any invasive procedure, it is always beneficial to get out of bed when medically stable and move around to avoid blood clots. Moving and walking after a procedure also helps the body heal. According to Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, after receiving a pulmonary artery stent your child should avoid contact sports and rough play like swinging, jumping and riding bikes for several days after the procedure. An adult should also avoid contact sports and vigorous exercise like running or intense aerobics for several days. The doctor will provide specific exercise instructions.
Long-Term Outlook
Children's Hospital Boston indicates that after pulmonary artery stenosis is repaired, as with a stent, a child can live a healthy life with normal activity levels. Activities during exercise should not cause negative symptoms after the condition is treated. The cardiologist for a child or adult can provide specific prognosis details.
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