PDA ligation?

rcnavywife

It's been awhile since I intro'd after the birth of our triplets at 27+2. They are now 36+5 adjusted.

Our DD and one DS are doing well, basically just working on feeding before they can be discharged. However our other DS has struggled all along with a very large PDA. He has had 3 courses of ibuprofen to no avail. The team has been content to leave it as long as he was progressing, to see if it would close on its own. He is currently on high flow nasal cannula and his O2 requirements are generally quite low, but he is very shunty and has huge desat clusters. Now however, we've reached a point where his weight gain has slowed right down and it is seeming more likely he will need the duct ligated.

I'm sure many of you had babes that needed ligation. How did your LO respond? What was the recovery like? I'm terrified of him undergoing surgery, but if it needs to be done, I think I'd rather get it over with so he can move forward and we can get him home!

rcnavywife

@MaiTaiBeth - thanks for the reply. I think of you and your girls often. I hope Fiona is continuing to improve!

Jenrn2203

Our ex 24 weeker had hers ligated at 35 weeks and it was scary, not gonna lie, from being on cannula to back on the vent was huge , the recovery may be different bc ours has chronic lung disease and that didn't help the recovery she retained a ton of fluid plus with the ligation it changes all their blood flow so it takes their body time to adjust. Unfortunately She got pneumonia some how-so keep an eye on hand washing! but all in all she's a year old actual and doing well cardiac wise. It needs to be done and it's super quick in general! About 15 min surgery but about a hour from start to finish with prepping and stuff! Very common surgery . Ours had a few ivs in and an arterial line

mommaoftrips

Rcnavywife - your story sounds similar to ours. 2 of my LOS were thriving and doing well, while my littlest one was on-and-off with breathing issues and a PDA which got better and worst all the time. Finally, after trying the meds x3, they decided that a ligation was our only choice. LO was sent to the children's hospital for the procedure on a Wednesday, hoping for a spot on Thursday - knowing that Friday was completely booked (no operations except for emergency ones over the weekend/monday - as luck would have it, it was a long weekend). On Tuesday they rechecked the PDA and it had closed so significantly that they decided to not do it).
I tell you thins story because things can change from one day to the next. I pray that this will happen to you but know that PDA surgery is very routine and can be done at the bed-side, it's a tiny little incision. GL

rcnavywife

Thanks for your stories! DS has another echo set for Tuesday and we'll go from there.

KatFCo

DD had a PDA ligation at about 26 weeks, and it was difficult, as infection set in shortly after, but it really helped her improve and it was nice to have one more thing we didn't have to worry about. I hope it goes well for him!

AmandaFaith

Thanks for this post and all of the information, everyone. My twins were born at 25w and they both had PDAs which were resolved early on using ibuprofen. DD's has returned though and is now pretty significant, so the doctors have decided to schedule her for surgery sometime next week (approximately 7w old--32w gestation). DH and I are nervous to be facing another surgery (DS already had one for bowel perforation and will have to have another to reconnect his bowels ones he reaches 2 kilos), but ultimately we are trying to trust the doctors opinion of what is best for our sweet babies.

KatFCo

AmandaFaith said:

Thanks for this post and all of the information, everyone. My twins were born at 25w and they both had PDAs which were resolved early on using ibuprofen. DD's has returned though and is now pretty significant, so the doctors have decided to schedule her for surgery sometime next week (approximately 7w old--32w gestation). DH and I are nervous to be facing another surgery (DS already had one for bowel perforation and will have to have another to reconnect his bowels ones he reaches 2 kilos), but ultimately we are trying to trust the doctors opinion of what is best for our sweet babies.

DD had the bowel surgery also. Hang in there!

Jenrn2203

Our ex 24 weeker had hers ligated at 35 weeks it was a tough recovery but the surgery needed to be done. Remember after the ligation they will get worse before they get better. All the docs and nurses told us that. So hang in there and don't be alarmed. It's a fast surgery too!

rcnavywife

@MaiTaiBeth - We've decided to ligate it. His weight gain has improved again but he is having some more significant events where he needs to be bagged to come up again. Unfortunately he needs to be transferred to another site for the surgery. We have a tentative date on Tuesday, provided there is a bed for him. Scared of the prospect of surgery, but want to get him home!

mommaoftrips

Rcnavywife - wishing you and your trips all the best - thinking and praying for you and your family.