Innovation Brings Heart Procedure to NICU, Reduces Stress for Baby Amelia
June 06, 2023
Amelia was born prematurely with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). “It’s a lesion that happens when a blood vessel stays open after a patient's born, causing significant stress to the heart and lungs.” said Peter Guyon, MD, interventional cardiology.
To close the hole, Amelia’s heart surgery team performed a transcatheter PDA closure, a minimally invasive procedure to place a soft, pliable device in the vessel that will stay with her for life.
“We’re one of the few hospitals across the nation performing this procedure within the NICU [neonatal intensive care unit],” said Brian Boe, MD, pediatric cardiology. “Our cardiologists and neonatologists have worked together to do this because it can be stressful for these very small babies to move them from their NICU rooms to our cardiac cath lab.”
“Having the procedure done in the NICU made us feel so much more comfortable,” said Laura, Amelia’s mom. “It really created a sense of peace and allowed her to progress and meet milestones.”
