Percutaneous Closure of Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm Babies: The Initial Brazilian Experience

Abstract

Background: The presence of patent ductus arteriosus can be as high as 50% in preterm babies. Hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus is a common cause of delayed weaning of respiratory support and an important risk factor of necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in this population. Objective: The aim of this study is to describe an initial experience of percutaneous closure of the ductus arteriosus in preterm infants weighing less than 2 kg. Methods: This was a prospective study, comprised of 14 consecutive patients submitted to percutaneous closure of ductus arteriosus between March 2020 and February 2021 in 6 institutions in Brazil. Results: Mean gestational age was 28.45±3.14 weeks, mean age at the procedure was 38.85±17.35 days and mean weight was 1.41 ±0.41 kg; 79% of the patients were under mechanical ventilation, and 79% had been submitted, on average, to a 1.5 cycle of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Most patients were weaned off of mechanical ventilation in a mean of 12.6 ±7.24 days after the procedure. Success rate was 100%. No procedure-related mortality was observed. Conclusion: This study concluded that percutaneous closure of ductus arteriosus in premature babies below 2 kg has satisfactory results and a low complication rate in this study sample.