[Prostaglandin E1. Emergency therapy in infants with preductal coarctation of the aorta (author's transl)]

Three infants with preductal coartation, tubular hypoplasia of the aortic arch, and VSD were treated with Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)-infusion to dilate the ductus arteriosus Botalli. Before PGE1-therapy the infants were treated with Furosemide and Digitalis, but they remained oliguric or anuric. During PGE1-infusion the pressure in the descending aorta rose and urine output increased significantly. Obviously the blood flow into the descending aorta via the ductus arteriosus was improved during PGE1-infusion. In all three cases surgery was successfull after PGE1-therapy. Before PGE1-therapy of preductal coarctation the diagnosis should be clear and also classical therapy with Furosemide and Digitalis should be tried.