Bedside heart surgery closes vessel in 610-gram premature baby

Doctors in northern Turkey have successfully closed an open blood vessel in a premature baby weighing just 610 grams, bringing specialist surgery to the infant rather than attempting a risky transfer.

The baby was born at 24 weeks in Ordu and was 19 days old at the time of the operation. Doctors diagnosed patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA, a persistent opening involving the heart’s circulation that is frequently seen in premature, very-low-birth-weight infants. Medication was tried first, but the vessel did not close.

An air-ambulance transfer to Istanbul was considered. Because moving such a small and medically fragile infant could create additional risks, a pediatric cardiovascular surgeon traveled from Istanbul to Ordu instead. Working with pediatric cardiology, cardiovascular surgery and neonatal specialists, the team performed a PDA ligation beside the baby’s bed in the neonatal intensive care unit.

The vessel was successfully closed, and a follow-up echocardiogram produced a good result. The newborn specialist said the baby was stable after surgery while emphasizing that the first 24 hours remained important. The infant’s treatment and close monitoring in intensive care are continuing.