Effects of assisted ventilation on echocardiographic findings in two infants with patent ductus arteriosus.
Echocardiography is a useful means of determining whether or not to ligate the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome and PDA. The magnitude of the left-to-right ductal shunt can be gauged by measuring the diameter of the left atrium (LA) and aortic root (AO) echocardiographically and by determining the LA/AO ratio. An increase in this ratio during weaning from assisted ventilation is an indication for ligation of the PDA. We recently used this criterion in treating 2 infants with respiratory distress syndrome and PDA.
D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008026:Ligation; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*