Innocent PPS Murmurs

What causes an innocent PPS murmur?

PPS stands for peripheral pulmonary stenosis, which sounds terrible, but this murmur is actually normal. In newborn babies the arteries that lead to the lungs (branch pulmonary arteries) are typically somewhat small. When the blood gets pumped from the large artery leaving the heart and enters these smaller pulmonary arteries, there is very often some turbulence, and the blood makes a whooshing noise similar that that of water going through a bend in a garden hose.

Who has innocent PPS murmurs?

This murmur is typical of newborns, and gradually resolves over the first year or so of life as the pulmonary arteries grow.

What does it mean if my child has an innocent PPS murmur?

It is very important to understand that the innocent PPS murmur is perfectly normal. It does not suggest any type of heart disorder. Children with a PPS murmur do not require special medical treatment when they go to the dentist or have other medical procedures. In fact, it is perfectly fine not to mention this murmur when one is filling out various sorts of health forms. Often, a child with a PPS murmur will be asked to return to the cardiologist for another listen at about a year of age to be sure the murmur has resolved as it should.

What do I tell loved ones about my child's condition?

An accurate description of a PPS murmur is to say that your child has a normal heart that is making an extra noise that is very common in newborns.

Who can I contact if I have questions?

Please don’t hesitate to contact Pediatric Cardiology at Mass General for Children at 888-644-3248 if you have any additional questions about your child’s heart.

Rev. 9/2018. Mass General for Children and Massachusetts General Hospital do not endorse any of the brands listed on this handout. This handout is intended to provide health information so that you can be better informed. It is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to treatment of any medical conditions.