Ductus Arteriosus Stenting in Newborns - Transcatheter Approach as a Bridge Therapy for Corrective Surgery

Duct-dependent congenital heart disease requires attentive therapeutic management since the only source of pulmonary blood flow in newborns is provided by the patent ductus arteriosus. The patency of the duct is the main objective in the first hours of life and it is guaranteed by prostaglandin E1 infusion, but it is not a long-term solution for this type of cardiac malformation. In order to augment pulmonary blood, there are two types of interventions that can be performed: a classical surgical shunt or stenting of the ductus arteriosus, a fairly new alternative to cardiac palliative surgery. Case selection for this type of procedure is essential regarding the patients’ outcome. We present the management of a newborn diagnosed with (pseudo)atretic pulmonary valve, large ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus, who underwent an interventional procedure to secure pulmonary blood flow by placing a drug-eluting stent in the ductus arteriosus. The patient’s evolution was not uneventful, several complications appeared, but after three months of neonatal intensive care we were able to discharge him in good clinical condition.