Bedside PDA ligation in premature infants less than 28 weeks and 1000 grams

Mustafa Kemal Avsar1, Tolga Demir2, Cem Celiksular3

  • 1Medicana International Istanbul Hospital Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey. mustafakemalavsar@hotmail.com.

Insights

Bedside surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a safe and effective procedure for very-low-birth-weight premature neonates (VLBWPN). This study confirms its safety in VLBWPN with significant PDA, leading to successful outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Surgery
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common condition in premature infants, leading to significant hemodynamic and respiratory issues.
  • High incidence (70%) of PDA in infants born before 28 weeks gestation; spontaneous closure rate is low (34%) in very-low-birth-weight premature neonates (VLBWPN).
  • Medical management of PDA has debated efficacy and duration; bedside surgical ligation offers a safe alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To retrospectively evaluate the safety and outcomes of bedside PDA ligation in VLBWPN.
  • To assess the feasibility of surgical PDA closure in extremely premature infants.
  • To present data on a cohort of VLBWPN undergoing bedside PDA ligation.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of 26 VLBWPN (born <28 weeks gestation, <1000g) who underwent bedside PDA ligation between 2012 and 2015.
  • All patients received initial medical treatment with indomethacin; 6 cases discontinued due to adverse effects.
  • Data collected on patient demographics, treatment, surgical outcomes, and post-discharge follow-up.

Main Results:

  • No surgical mortality was observed.
  • One case of late pneumothorax occurred as a surgical complication.
  • Five patients (19%) were lost to follow-up, with sepsis being the most common cause of mortality (3 cases).
  • Twenty-one patients were discharged between 86-238 days; common post-discharge issue was chronic lung problems.
  • Follow-up ranged from 2 months to 3 years.

Conclusions:

  • Bedside PDA ligation in the ICU is a safe and effective surgical method for VLBWPN with clinically significant PDA.
  • The procedure demonstrates low morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable population.
  • Further research can explore long-term outcomes and optimize perioperative care.
Abstract

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