Patent Ductus Arteriosus Ligation In Newborns

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Patent Ductus Arteriosus (r-teer-e-o-sus) is also called a "PDA." It is a channel or path that connects two large arteries that come out of the top of the heart. The two arteries are called the aorta and the pulmonary artery. Before a child is born, the PDA is called a Ductus Arteriosus or "DA." The DA is important because it causes most of the blood to bypass the lungs. The lungs do not need much blood since unborn babies do not breathe air. The placenta acts like a lung for unborn babies. After birth, babies do not need the DA anymore because they need to have blood going to their lungs. The DA is supposed to close shortly after birth. A DA that does not close after birth is called a PDA.
  
  
• After birth, a PDA causes some of the blood from the aorta to leak back into the pulmonary artery. This is not supposed to happen since the blood from the aorta has already been to the lungs once. The circling of blood caused by the PDA makes extra work for the heart and lungs. It causes the heart to have to pump harder than normal to send enough blood and oxygen out to the body. In time, this may cause congestive (kun-jes-tiv) heart failure.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Medicines:

• Keep a written list of what medicines your baby takes and when and why your baby takes them. Bring the list of your baby's medicines or the pill bottles when you visit your baby's caregivers. Ask caregivers for more information about the medicines. Do not give any medicines to your baby without first asking your baby's caregiver. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements.
  
  
• Always give your baby's medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your baby's caregiver if you think your baby's medicines are not helping. If you feel your baby is having side effects, do not quit giving the medicines until you discuss it with your baby's caregiver. If your baby is taking antibiotics (an-ti-bi-ah-tiks), give them until they are all gone. Even if your baby seems to feel better.
  
  
• Never give aspirin to your baby without first asking your baby's caregiver. Giving aspirin to your baby when he is ill may cause a very serious illness called Reye's syndrome. Read medicine labels to see if your baby's medicine has aspirin in it.

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.

Activity:

• If your baby is very premature, he may stay in the NICU for a while after his PDA surgery. Premature infants need time to grow and to become healthy and old enough to go home. If your baby is not premature or is big enough, he may go home sooner after PDA surgery. Bigger babies may go home sooner than premature babies if they do not have other health problems.
  
  
• Your baby may need to sleep more after surgery. Let your baby do the things he would normally do. Let your baby sleep whenever he wants to. Help your baby rest when you feel it is needed.

Bathing:

When you are allowed to bathe your baby, carefully wash the incision area with soap and water. Afterwards put on a clean, new bandage. Change your baby's bandage any time it gets wet or dirty. Your baby may have steri-strips (thin strips of tape) on his incision. Keep them clean and dry. As they start to peel off, let them fall off by themselves. Do not pull them off.

Colds or the Flu:

Keep your baby away from people who have colds or the flu. Also try to keep your baby away from large groups of people. This lessens your baby's chance of getting sick or getting an infection.

Support:

• Most babies stop having heart problems after the PDA is closed. Heart problems can be life-changing for you, your baby, and your family. Accepting that your baby has or did have heart problems is hard. You may feel angry, sad, or frightened. These feelings are normal. Talk to your caregivers, family, or friends about your feelings. Let them help you. Encourage those close to you to talk to your caregiver about how things are at home. Your caregiver can help your family better understand how to support a person recovering from a PDA and surgery.
  
  
• You may also want to join a support group. This is a group of people who also have heart problems caused by PDA. Ask your caregiver for the names and numbers of support groups in your town. You can contact the following national organization for more information.
  • American Heart Association
    7272 Greenville Avenue
    Dallas , TX 75231-4596
    Phone: 1- 800 - 242-8721
    Web Address: http://www.heart.org
    

Wellness Hints:

• Keep your baby healthy by following the special diet directed by your baby's caregivers. Eating healthy may help your baby to feel and grow better. It may help your baby to heal faster.
  
  
• It is very important not to smoke around your baby. Second-hand smoke harms your baby's heart, lungs, and blood. It is never too late to quit smoking if you smoke. You will help yourself and those around you by not smoking. Ask your caregiver for the CareNotes™ handout on how to stop smoking if you are having trouble quitting.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• Your child has a fever.
  
  
• Your baby's stitches/steri-strips come apart.
  
  
• The skin around your baby's incision is red, swollen, or has pus coming out. This may mean that your baby has an infection.
  
  
• Your baby has chills, a cough, or sounds congested. These are signs that your baby may have an infection.
  
  
• Your baby's skin is itchy, swollen, or has a rash. Your baby's medicine may be causing these symptoms. This may mean your baby is allergic (uh-ler-jik) to his medicine.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your baby's surgery or medicine.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• Your baby's bandage becomes soaked with blood.
  
  
• Your baby has trouble breathing all of a sudden. This could be a sign that your baby has a blood clot in his lung. It could also mean that your baby is allergic to a medicine he is taking.