Original Article - Current Pediatric Research (2026) Volume 30, Issue 1

Clinical profile and immediate outcomes of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm Neonates admitted in the NICU of a Tertiary care hospital in central India.

Background: Patency of the ductus arteriosus is vital for the survival of the foetus. The ductus often fails to close in premature infants called patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). We aim to study the clinical profile and assess the immediate outcomes of preterm neonates diagnosed with clinically significant PDA. Objectives: To evaluate the clinical profile and immediate outcomes of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm Neonates admitted in the NICU of a Tertiary care hospital in central India. Methods: This prospective observational descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics at a Tertiary Care Centre over a period of 24 months, from August 2022 to June 2024. All preterm neonates admitted to the NICU with a gestational age of less than 37 weeks and a birth weight of less than 2.5 kg, or with clinically apparent Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), were included in the study. Institutional Ethical Committee (IEC) approval and written informed consent from parents were obtained before enrolment of study participants. Detailed clinical history, examination findings and investigations were recorded, and all data were entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Statistical analysis was performed, and results were presented as frequencies and percentages. Results: A total of 250 preterm neonates who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. During the study period, a total of 961 suspected neonates were screened; of them, 250 were diagnosed with PDA, representing an incidence rate of 26.01%. Most of the mothers 107 (42.8%) were between 21 and 25 years, with a mean maternal age of 24.78 ± 3.15 years. Most of the mothers were primigravida, 165 (66.0%). In 179 (71.6%) of cases, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) was classified as idiopathic. 77 (30.8%) had gestational age between 32 and 33 weeks. The mean gestational age was 32.12 ± 1.41 weeks. Most of the neonates, 103 (41.2%) with PDA, had birth weight between 1500 and 2499 grams. The commonest clinical finding was a systolic murmur detected in 179 (71.6%) of neonates. Moderate-sized patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), in 117 (46.8%) neonates, was the commonest 2D ECHO finding in the first 24 hours of life. The majority of the neonates, 169 (67.6%), were managed medically. The commonest complication observed was heart failure in 34 (13.6%) of neonates. 102 (40.8%) of the neonates with PDA experienced spontaneous closure. 229(91.6%) of the neonates being discharged alive, Mortality observed was 21 (8.4%). Conclusion: The present study provides important insights into the incidence of PDA, its aetiology, diagnosis, management, and outcomes. The incidence of PDA was found to be 26.01%. Most cases were idiopathic. Echocardiography emerged as a vital tool in the early diagnosis of PDA. Most neonates were managed medically, while a significant portion experienced spontaneous closure of the ductus arteriosus. Complications such as heart failure were common among neonates with PDA. Thus, early diagnosis and individualised management strategies, including both medical treatment and conservative observation, play a critical role in improving outcomes for neonates with PDA.

Author(s):

Samiksha Bhonde, Lakshmikant A. Rohadkar*, Ajay Keshwani, Harjeet Singh, Tejaswini Mundare, Shivasharana DY

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