Coil Occlusion For Patent Ductus Arteriosus Closure In Children

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Patent Ductus Arteriosus (r-teer-e-O-sus) coil occlusion (o-CLUE-shun) is also called "PDA coil occlusion" or "PDA closure". It is done to close your child's PDA. PDA is a channel or path that connects 2 large arteries that come out of the top of the heart. Unborn babies need this channel. After a baby is born, the PDA should naturally close. After birth, your child does not need a PDA. A PDA causes your baby's heart and lungs to work harder than they should. This is because blood that should be pumped out to the body leaks back into the lungs and heart. In time, this "circling" of blood may cause congestive (kun-JES-tiv) heart failure (heart wears out) and lung damage.
  
  
• PDA coil closure is done during a heart catheterization (kath-uh-ter-ih-ZA-shun) or "heart cath". A heart cath is a procedure in which catheters (long, thin, bendable tubes) are gently threaded (guided) into your child's heart. Your child's caregivers push 1 or more tiny metal coils through a catheter and plug them into the PDA. If the PDA coil closes your child's PDA, he may not need surgery. Your child may go home the same day or may stay in the hospital after the PDA is closed.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Medicines:

• Keep a written list of the medicines your child takes and when and why he takes them. Bring the list of your child's medicines or the pill bottles when your child sees his caregivers. Learn why your child takes each medicine. Ask your child's caregivers for information about your child's medicines. Do not give your child over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to his caregivers.
  
  
• Always give your child his medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your child's caregiver if you think your child's medicines are not helping. Call if you think your child is having side effects from the medicine. Do not stop giving a medicine until you discuss it with your child's caregiver.
  
  
• Antibiotics (an-ti-bi-AH-tiks):
  
  
  • If your child is taking antibiotics, give them until they are all gone even if your child feels better.
    
    
  • For the next 6 months or longer, your child may need to take antibiotics. Your child may be given antibiotics before having dental care or medical procedures. Taking antibiotics before procedures may help prevent bacterial (bak-TEER-e-ull) endocarditis (end-o-kar-DI-tis). This is an infection in the heart. Ask your child's caregiver how long your child must wait after the PDA closure before going to the dentist. Tell your child's dentist and other caregivers about your child's coarctation repair.

When is my child's next doctor's appointment?

Ask for more information about where and when to take your child for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services for your child, ask for information.

When can my child do his normal activity?

Children usually recover from a PDA closure very quickly. Help your child go a little slower for the first 2 days after a PDA closure. Help your child to play quietly or lie flat as much as possible the night after the PDA closure. Dress your child in loose clothing for the first few days after the PDA closure. This will keep the skin around the catheter wound from being irritated (bothered) while it heals. Ask your child's caregiver about returning to school or other activities.

When can my child take a bath or shower?

You may give your child a sponge bath or shower after your child goes home. Do not let your child take a full bath or go swimming until the scabs where the catheter was put in fall off. This usually takes about 1 week. Carefully wash the catheter site with soap and water. Afterwards put on a clean, new bandage.

What can my child eat?

Ask your child's caregiver if your child should be on a special diet. If your child is sick to his stomach, give him only clear liquids like water, juice, or popsicles. If your child feels good, give him the foods that he regularly eats.

How do I take care of my child's PDA closure wound?

• It is normal for your child to have a small amount of bruising and soreness where the catheter went in. This area may hurt a little bit for a few days. Watch your child's catheter bruise. Draw a line with pen around the edges of your child's catheter bruise. This will show you if the bruise starts to get bigger.
  
  
• Keep your child's catheter wound clean and dry. Change the bandage each day or whenever it gets dirty or wet. Do this until the catheter wound scab falls off.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• Your child's incision is swollen, red, or has pus or foul-smelling fluid coming from it. This may mean it is infected.
  
  
• Your child has a fever.
  
  
• Your child has chills, a cough, or feels weak and achy. These are signs that your child may have an infection.
  
  
• Your child's skin is itchy, swollen, or has a rash. Your child's medicine may be causing these symptoms. This may mean you child is allergic (uh-LER-jik) to his medicine.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your child's PDA closure, illness, or medicine.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• The bruise where the catheter went into your child gets bigger.
  
  
• Your child's leg or arm used for the PDA closure loses feeling, is very painful, or changes color.
  
  
• Your child becomes weak on one side of his body or face.
  
  
• Your child has trouble speaking clearly.
  
  
• Your child has a change in his vision.
  
  
• If the place where the catheter was put in starts to bleed, use your hand to put firm pressure on the bandage. Hold this pressure and call your child's caregiver right away. Tell the caregiver that your child is bleeding. If you cannot stop the bleeding, call 911 or 0 (operator). This is an emergency. Ask for an ambulance to take your child to the nearest hospital or clinic.