Mode
Text Size
Log in / Sign up

Review of bedside ligation for patent ductus arteriosus in an extremely low birth weight infantA single case shows bedside ligation works for a tiny newborn with a heart hole

AI-generated summary of the cited source, checked by automated accuracy review. How we work

Key Takeaway
Consider this single case as a reference only, not evidence of efficacy for broader use.

This publication is a review and synthesis based on a single case report. The scope is the management of a patent ductus arteriosus in an extremely low birth weight infant with a gestational age of 27 + 1 weeks and a birth weight of 740 g in a neonatal intensive care unit. The authors synthesize the outcome of bedside ligation, noting no distinct residual shunt at the great artery level and successful weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation. Follow-up occurred at 2 hours post-ligation and on postoperative day 4. The authors acknowledge that numerous challenges regarding the treatment of neonatal hsPDA via bedside ligation remain unsolved. They note the infant's overall condition was favorable, but adverse events were not reported. The practice relevance is to serve as a reference for managing newborns with hsPDA, with the explicit caution not to generalize findings from a single case report to broader populations or infer efficacy or safety beyond the single case presented.

Imagine a baby born just 27 weeks into pregnancy. This infant weighed only 740 grams and faced a serious heart condition called patent ductus arteriosus. Doctors at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital treated this extremely low birth weight infant using a bedside ligation procedure. This method involves tying off the open vessel right at the bedside instead of taking the baby to the operating room. The team watched the baby closely for two hours after the procedure and again on the fourth day. They found no remaining hole at the great artery level. The baby also successfully stopped needing invasive mechanical ventilation. The infant's overall condition remained favorable throughout the recovery period. No adverse events or serious safety issues were reported during this specific case. While this single story offers hope, it is important to remember that treating this condition in newborns still faces many unsolved challenges. This report serves as a reference for managing these fragile patients but does not prove the method works for everyone. More research is needed before doctors can recommend this approach for broader populations.

What this means for you:
One case shows bedside ligation can close a heart hole and help a tiny newborn breathe easier.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedMay 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) that fails to close after birth can lead to a hemodynamically significant left to right shunt, resulting in pulmonary overcirculation and systemic hypoperfusion. Currently, ligation performed in the operating room or at the bedside in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are options for surgical treatment of hsPDA that has failed to close following pharmacological intervention, and bedside ligation is considered an optimized approach for preterm and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. However, numerous challenges regarding the treatment of neonatal hsPDA via bedside ligation remain unsolved. Recently, a successful bedside PDA ligation has been performed in the NICU of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital to treat an ELBW neonate with a gestational age of 27 + 1 weeks and a birth weight (BW) of 740 g. Echocardiography conducted 2 h after ligation revealed no distinct residual shunt at the great artery level. The infant's overall condition was favorable, and was successfully weaned from invasive mechanical ventilation on postoperative day 4. This article focuses on the diagnosis and comprehensive management of hsPDA in the presented case, synthesizing the findings with an extensive literature review to serve as a reference for managing such newborns with hsPDA.
Free Newsletter

Clinical research that matters. Delivered to your inbox.

Join thousands of clinicians and researchers. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.