Understanding Pulmonary Vein Stenosis
Your heart pumps blood to your lungs to pick up oxygen. This oxygen-rich blood then travels back to your heart through the pulmonary veins. Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) occurs when one or more of these veins becomes narrowed or blocked, making it harder for blood to return to your heart. This in turn increases pressure in your lungs leading to long-term complications. PVS is a rare serious disease that sometimes goes unrecognized. It often affects babies born prematurely or with other cardiac conditions. However, it can also affect healthy individuals.
Comprenhensive and Personalized Treatment of PVS
Due to the complexity of PVS and the need for specialized care, the Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Program was created as part of the Heart Institute at Nicklaus Children's Hospital. This is the only program in Florida offering a team of experts focused on treating PVS.
Since every case of PVS is unique, our team carefully evaluates each patient's condition and symptoms to create a personalized treatment plan. Treatment plans can include medications, minimally invasive procedures like cardiac catheterization, or surgery.
Multidisciplinary Team of Specialists
The Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Program team is comprised of multidisciplinary specialists, including cardiologists, cardiac imaging experts, pulmonary hypertension specialists, neonatologists, hematologist-oncologists, interventional cardiologists, and cardiothoracic surgeons. Every patient receives specialized care from a team dedicated to the treatment and management of their PVS.
How to Get Started
To make an appointment with the Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Program, please contact the Heart Institute nurse navigator, Jessica Quinones.
As a patient navigator for the Heart Institute, Jessica Quinones serves as the primary point of contact for families and referring physicians whose infants have been diagnosed with a heart defect. She aids in securing appointments with specialists, scheduling and explaining diagnostic tests, and procedures.