Dr. Pramod Kumar is a famous cardiologist in Chennai. At present, he is working as a consultant at Apollo Hospital Greams Road,Chennai. With an experience of more than 22 years he holds expertise in Vascular Surgery, Mitral/Heart Valve Replacement, Patent Ductus Arteriosus, Aortic Aneurysm Surgery / Endovascular Repair, Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. His education qualification includes MBBS, MD and DM from renowned institutions. He is a respected and well-known member of the Tamil Nadu Medical Council.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
It is an opening between the two major blood vessels directing from the heart. The opening is a normal part of a baby's circulatory system in the womb. It is usually closed shortly after birth. If for any reason it has remained open it's termed as a patent ductus arteriosus. But it doesn't cause problems and might not ever need treatment. In case an outsized patent blood vessel left untreated can allow poorly oxygenated blood to flow within the wrong direction. It weakens the heart muscle that causes heart failure and other related complications.
Symptoms
· Easy tiring
· Rapid heart rate
· Poor eating that results in poor growth
· Sweating with crying or eating
· Persistent fast breathing or breathlessness
Diagnosis
In case of a suspected heart defect doctor will suggest for:
· Echocardiogram
· Chest X-ray
· Electrocardiogram
· Cardiac catheterization
Treatment
Treatment depends on the age of the person being treated. Options might include:
· Watchful Waiting - A PDA often closes on its own in a premature baby. The doctor monitors the baby's heart to make sure the open blood vessel is closed properly.
· Medications - For premature babies, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or indomethacin are suggested prescription.
· Surgical Closure- When medications turn out to be completely ineffective and the child's condition is severe causing complications surgery might be recommended. The surgeon will make a small cut or incision between the child's ribs to approach the heart and repair the open duct using stitches or clips.
A post-surgery child will remain in the hospital for several days under observation. It takes a few weeks for a child to recover completely from heart surgery. Surgical closure may additionally be recommended for adults who are undergoing a PDA that's causing health problems. Possible risks with surgery are a paralyzed diaphragm, hoarseness, bleeding, infection.
· Catheter Procedures - Premature babies are quite small for catheter procedures. In this case, the doctor might recommend waiting until the baby is older to try to to a catheter procedure to correct the PDA. This procedure can also be used to treat full-term babies, children, and adults.
In this procedure, a thin tube is positioned into a blood vessel in the groin and threaded up to the heart. A plug or coil is then inserted to shut the blood vessel.
Take Away
The above procedure needs deliberate aftercare. Consult an experienced doctor for the same. You can also contact Dr. Pramod Kumar one of the best Cardiac Surgeons in Chennai. You can see him at Apollo Hospital Greams Road Chennai.
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