Abstract
Infants with pulmonary atresia are frequently dependent upon the patency of the ductus arteriosus for adequate pulmonary blood flow. Endogenous production of a dilator prostaglandin probably maintains patency of the ductus in utero. Infusion of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) 0,1 μg/kg/min was used in 6 infants with pulmonary atresia to increase pulmonary blood flow and systemic oxygenation. The infusion improved the clinical condition of the infants and diminished the degree of central cyanosis. In 3 cases serial measurement of systemic arterial oxygen tension showed a sustained increase. There were no deleterious side-effects. During cardiac catheterization and preparation for operation, PGE1 provides a valuable means of maintaining pulmonary blood flow in infants with pulmonary atresia and a ductus arteriosus.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 700-702 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | South African Medical Journal |
| Volume | 54 |
| Issue number | 17 |
| State | Published - Jan 1 1978 |
