Guide To Managing Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Catheter Procedures

Catheter procedures are usually the first invasive treatment doctors attempt when treating patent ductus arteriosus. While the procedure is appropriate for the vast majority of patients with this condition, premature infants cannot have this particular procedure due to their small size. To be eligible for a catheter procedure, patients must weigh at least five kilograms. Catheter procedures can often be performed using minimally invasive methods, and patients may be able to have the procedure at an outpatient surgery facility. During the procedure, a catheter is placed in a blood vessel in the patient's groin, and surgeons advance it until it reaches the affected area of the heart. Once they are in the correct location, doctors release a plug or a coil that has been inserted into the catheter, and this closes the ductus arteriosus.

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