Percutaneous Closure of Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm Babies: The Initial Brazilian Experience

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Cardiology
• Pediatric Interventional Cardiology
• Neonatal Surgery

Background:

• Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) affects up to 50% of preterm infants.
• Hemodynamically significant PDA is linked to respiratory support delay, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
• Early intervention for PDA in vulnerable neonates is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the initial experience of percutaneous closure of PDA in preterm infants weighing less than 2 kg.
• To assess the feasibility and safety of a minimally invasive approach for PDA in extremely low birth weight infants.
• To establish a baseline for future research on interventional PDA closure in neonates.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 14 consecutive preterm infants (<2 kg) undergoing percutaneous PDA closure.
• Procedures performed across 6 Brazilian institutions between March 2020 and February 2021.
• Data collected on patient demographics, ventilation status, prior medical treatments, and procedural outcomes.

Main Results:

• The study included infants with a mean gestational age of 28.45 weeks and mean weight of 1.41 kg.
• 79% of patients were on mechanical ventilation and had received prior non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatment.
• A 100% success rate was achieved, with no procedure-related mortality and successful weaning from mechanical ventilation in a mean of 12.6 days.

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous closure of PDA in preterm infants under 2 kg demonstrates satisfactory outcomes.
• The procedure offers a low complication rate in this high-risk neonatal population.
• Minimally invasive PDA closure is a viable and effective treatment option for low birth weight preterm infants.