First bedside procedure of its kind performed by traveling clinicians on premature infant
Cardiologists in Florida have performed the first traveling bedside transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure on a 22-week-old infant that was born premature. The minimally invasive operation was a success, and the young patient is now recovering.
PDA closures are typically performed in a cath lab, leading to certain risks when the young patient has to exit the safety of the NICU environment. By performing the PDA closure bedside, however, those risks of transportation are avoided altogether. Bedside PDA closure is still relatively new—and this was the first time one of the procedures was performed as part of a traveling program that covers multiple area hospitals.
Interventional cardiologist Shyam Sathanandam, MD, co-director of the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Heart Institute, led the first-of-its-kind operation. He is a known pioneer in the area of PDA closure, launching an International PDA Symposium in 2018.
“The traveling bedside PDA closures represent a pivotal shift in how we care for our most fragile patients and their tiny hearts,” Sathanandam explained in a statement. “These premature infants are tiny but mighty. Our goal is to bring interventional therapy directly to the infant’s isolette in NICUs throughout the community, which eliminates unnecessary risks associated with transporting the babies out to tertiary centers. This also allows us to intervene early; at the precise moment when it matters most. I am honored my dedicated team and I can bring this life-saving care directly to families in Broward County and across South Florida.”
Sathanandam performed the procedure at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The patient was born with a PDA that remained open, resulting in excess blood flow to its lungs. This is known to lead to difficulties with breathing, feeding and other substantial complications.
The PDA closure procedure was performed with a small catheter, and no chest incision was required.
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.