To Close or Not to Close: The Very Small Patent Ductus Arteriosus

To close or not to close: the very small patent ductus arteriosus.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) accounts for approximately 10% of all congenital heart diseases, with an incidence of at least 2-4 per 1000 term births. Closure of the large, hemodynamically significant PDA is established as the standard of care, and can be performed safely and effectively using either surgical or transcatheter methods. The appropriate management of the very small, hemodynamical...

Do We Have to Close Residual Patent Ductus Arteriosus After Surgery or Transcatheter Intervention?

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), defined as an arterial connection between the pulmonary artery and the aorta, is a common congenital cardiac defect. The connection can be closed surgically or by transcatheter methods. The overall incidence of PDA in infants born prematurely is about 16 times higher than that in full term infants. Preterm infants with symptomatic heart failure secondary to persi...

Patent ductus arteriosus: to treat or not to treat?

Persistent patency of the ductus arteriosus in the preterm infant is associated with numerous morbidities, including higher rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and increased mortality. These strong associations have led to widespread use of cyclooxygenase inhibitors and surgical ligation to achieve ductal closure in the expectation that closing the ductus will reduce these complications. Each o...

Closure of Small Patent Ductus Arteriosus by Occluding Detachable Coil

Patent foramen ovale and stroke prevention -- to close or not to close: a teachable moment.

Story From the Front Lines A 65-year-old man with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension was seen in clinic for hospital follow-up. He had previously been admitted to the hospital with slurred speech and aphasia and diagnosed as having a left middle cerebral artery ischemic infarct. Tissue plasminogen activator was administered with a positive neuro...