Incidence of the persistence of the arterious duct in neonatal unit and the need for treatment

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The ductus arteriosus is a structure that connects aortic arc with artery of pulmonary trunk. Under normal conditions, in newborn terms and up to 90% of those over 30 weeks of gestational age, the ductus arteriosus tends to close up to 72 hours of life. When the duct remains open after 72 hours of life, the ductus arteriosus is considered to be persistent (PCA). OBJECTIVE: It evaluates the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus and its need for specific treatment. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out through the selection of records of newborns admitted to the neonatal unit of the HMDI (Hospital and Maternity Dona Iris) from January to December 2017. RESULTS: in the neonatal unit in 2017, 96 were excluded who did not have an echocardiogram (ECO), six who had complex heart disease, 14 who had only ECO with PCA less than 72 hours of life and six who had the first ECO without PCA more than 21 days old of life. Of these patients, 185 patients had ECOS, of which 56 were less than or equal to 32 weeks, 129 were greater than 32 weeks. Of the lesser or equal 32 weeks 24 had PCA, three of which required specific treatment. Of the greater than 32 weeks 21 had PCA, and one required specific treatment. CONCLUSION: The importance of performing an echocardiogram with more than 72 hours of life and assessing the clinical repercussions of the pathology in question, the persistence of the ductus arteriosus, to assess the need for specific treatment. The total incidence of PCA in our neonatal unit was 24.3%. The incidence at or below 32 weeks was 42.8%. The incidence at greater than 32 weeks was 16.2%. The need for total treatment was 8.8%. The need for specific treatment in the 32 weeks or less was 12.5%. The need for specific treatment over 32 weeks was 4.7%.