The present invention relates to the implantation of one or more prosthetic valve(s)
in the pulmonary vein(s) of a subject as a means of decreasing or preventing an
increase in pulmonary venous pressure. The present invention accordingly provides
for novel treatment strategies for the treatment of medical disorders associated
with elevated pulmonary venous pressure, including congestive heart failure, as
well as for prosthetic pulmonary vein valves and their delivery systems. Expandable
as well as fixed-dimension non-expandable pulmonary vein prosthetic valves for
implantation by a variety of surgical and percutaneous procedures are also described.