How to treat patent ductus arteriosus in newborns

The treatments for patent ductus arteriosus in neonates include drug therapy, interventional therapy and surgical treatment. The specific choice needs to be determined based on the severity of the disease and the specific circumstances of the child.

Patent ductus arteriosus means that the ductus arteriosus does not close naturally after birth during the fetal period, resulting in abnormal blood flow, which may cause problems such as increased cardiac burden and heart failure. Children with mild symptoms, low body weight, and good cardiac compensation can be treated with medication, such as the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as indomethacin or ibuprofen) to promote duct closure; but it should be noted that drug treatment may cause side effects on renal function and the gastrointestinal tract, and it must be used under the guidance of a doctor. If the medication is ineffective or the condition is severe, such as causing serious cardiopulmonary problems, interventional treatment can be considered, using minimally invasive means to close the ductus through a catheter occluder, which has little trauma and fast recovery. For children who are not suitable for interventional treatment or have a larger patent ductus arteriosus, surgical suture or ligation of the ductus is required. Surgical treatment can completely solve the problem, but the surgical trauma is large, and the child's condition and postoperative recovery ability must be considered.

Patent ductus arteriosus means that the ductus arteriosus does not close naturally after birth during the fetal period, resulting in abnormal blood flow, which may cause problems such as increased cardiac burden and heart failure. Children with mild symptoms, low body weight, and good cardiac compensation can be treated with medication, such as the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as indomethacin or ibuprofen) to promote duct closure; but it should be noted that drug treatment may cause side effects on renal function and the gastrointestinal tract, and it must be used under the guidance of a doctor. If the medication is ineffective or the condition is severe, such as causing serious cardiopulmonary problems, interventional treatment can be considered, using minimally invasive means to close the ductus through a catheter occluder, which has little trauma and fast recovery. For children who are not suitable for interventional treatment or have a larger patent ductus arteriosus, surgical suture or ligation of the ductus is required. Surgical treatment can completely solve the problem, but the surgical trauma is large, and the child's condition and postoperative recovery ability must be considered.

Generally, the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus requires early intervention to prevent further damage to the heart and lung functions. Parents should pay close attention to whether the newborn has symptoms such as rapid breathing, feeding difficulties, and growth retardation. If any abnormality is found, they should seek medical attention in time. After treatment, they need to receive regular follow-up visits from a cardiologist to monitor the recovery of heart function. At the same time, they should pay attention to the balanced nutrition of the child and avoid infection to help the young body grow more healthily.