The thought of a baby being born often warms the hearts of the parents to be. Hoping for the best in the creation and birth of their unborn child. It is until this moment that a parents’ world comes crashing down; the moment the doctor tells them that their precious child has a congenital cardiovascular defect known as Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). The American heart Association describes the ductus arteriosus as a “hole that allows the blood to skip the circulation to the lungs”( The American Heart Association, 2017). According to the Mayo Clinic, the ductus arteriosus is “a normal part of the baby’s circulatory system before birth that usually closes shortly after birth” (Mayo Clinic, 1998-2017). When a fetus is in the womb, there is
…show more content…
If the opening is too large, surgery may be an option to prevent further stress to the neonate. The options for treatment are medication, catheter- based procedures, or surgery. The medication “Indomethacin is a medicine that helps close PDAs in premature infants” (NIH,2017), and does not work well in full term infants. Ibuprofen is also used because it acts in the same way as Indomethacin in the closing of the hole. Catheter -based procedures “are thin, flexible tubes that doctors use as part of a procedure called cardiac catheterization. Catheter-based procedures often are used to close PDAs in infants or children who are large enough to have the procedure” (NIH, 2017). Ultimately, surgery would be the least desirable option, conversely, it is important to fix PDA before it causes more complications to the patient. “Surgery to correct a PDA may be done if; A premature or full-term infant has health problems due to a PDA and is too small to have a catheter-based procedure. A catheter-based procedure doesn't successfully close the PDA. Surgery is planned for treatment of related congenital heart defects” (NIH, 2017). With a diagnosis of PDA, parents are often concerned about the quality of life for the …show more content…
The condition occurs more often in premature infants (on average, occurring in about 8 of every 1,000 births). However, a PDA also occurs in full-term infants (on average, occurring in about 2 of every 1,000 births)” (UCSF, 2017). Furthermore, there is never a guarantee in the event of disease and treatment but there are infants that have had extremely successful results with one or more of the treatment options. “Within a few weeks after surgery, older children are usually fully recovered and able to do normal activities. Instructions from your child's cardiac team and the hospital staff. In premature infants, the outlook after PDA surgical repair depends on gestational age and overall health. In children born full-term, early diagnosis and repair of PDA lets them live normal, healthy lives. Activity levels, appetite, and growth should return to normal” (Lifespan,
If the opening is too large, surgery may be an option to prevent further stress to the neonate. The options for treatment are medication, catheter- based procedures, or surgery. The medication “Indomethacin is a medicine that helps close PDAs in premature infants” (NIH,2017), and does not work well in full term infants. Ibuprofen is also used because it acts in the same way as Indomethacin in the closing of the hole. Catheter -based procedures “are thin, flexible tubes that doctors use as part of a procedure called cardiac catheterization. Catheter-based procedures often are used to close PDAs in infants or children who are large enough to have the procedure” (NIH, 2017). Ultimately, surgery would be the least desirable option, conversely, it is important to fix PDA before it causes more complications to the patient. “Surgery to correct a PDA may be done if; A premature or full-term infant has health problems due to a PDA and is too small to have a catheter-based procedure. A catheter-based procedure doesn't successfully close the PDA. Surgery is planned for treatment of related congenital heart defects” (NIH, 2017). With a diagnosis of PDA, parents are often concerned about the quality of life for the …show more content…
The condition occurs more often in premature infants (on average, occurring in about 8 of every 1,000 births). However, a PDA also occurs in full-term infants (on average, occurring in about 2 of every 1,000 births)” (UCSF, 2017). Furthermore, there is never a guarantee in the event of disease and treatment but there are infants that have had extremely successful results with one or more of the treatment options. “Within a few weeks after surgery, older children are usually fully recovered and able to do normal activities. Instructions from your child's cardiac team and the hospital staff. In premature infants, the outlook after PDA surgical repair depends on gestational age and overall health. In children born full-term, early diagnosis and repair of PDA lets them live normal, healthy lives. Activity levels, appetite, and growth should return to normal” (Lifespan,