For Parents: What to Expect

When your baby comes to us for closure of a patent (open) ductus arteriosus, he or she receives care from a team of interdisciplinary providers, including pediatric cardiologists, neonatologists, cardiac anesthesiologists, and nurses who are expressly trained to care for the smallest, most vulnerable preterm infants.

Closing your child’s PDA may have many benefits. Due to fluid collecting in your baby’s lungs, he or she may be having trouble breathing independently, and his or her heart may be enlarged from working extra hard. After the procedure—which involves no incisions—recovery is usually swift, with many babies weaning more quickly from the breathing support and growing more easily. While your baby is in our care, you can expect the following:

• A thorough evaluation, performed by our highly skilled cardiologists and neonatologists, to ensure that your baby is a good candidate for closure or whether other management options would be more beneficial.
• Continual care from an advanced team in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), including neonatologists, Neonatal Intensive Care nurses, respiratory therapists, and developmental care specialists. The team provides intensive care around the clock, ensuring that your baby stays in optimal health before, during, and after the procedure. We support your baby with the latest technology, encourage your input and presence, and make sure your baby is strong from a whole-body standpoint before undergoing the procedure. Because of this meticulous, specialized care, we see high rates of success in our Preterm PDA Closure Program.
• The nonsurgical, minimally invasive PDA closure procedure is performed by an interventional cardiologist with significant experience in PDA closures, accompanied by a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist. Improvement in breathing and feeding is often experienced after recovery from the procedure.
• Your family is kept informed with regular updates from our doctors. You can also virtually watch your infant in the NICU on bedside cameras, available on an almost-24/7 basis during his or her stay with us.
• An echocardiogram after the procedure is performed to confirm that the device was successfully placed.
• If your baby was transferred from another hospital, he or she may return to your home hospital within a few days after the procedure, once he or she has been deemed healthy and stable for transport.

If you were told that your baby has a patent (open) ductus arteriosus (PDA), ask your doctor to inquire about their candidacy for PDA closure.