A groundbreaking advancement in paediatric heart care is transforming how doctors treat one of the most common and potentially serious conditions affecting premature babies. A tiny, minimally invasive device — smaller than a coin — is now helping close dangerous heart defects without the need for surgery.

The condition, known as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), occurs when a blood vessel connecting the aorta and pulmonary artery fails to close after birth. While some cases resolve naturally, larger openings can place life-threatening strain on a newborn’s heart and lungs — especially in preemies.

“If it’s large, especially relative to the patient, it can create a number of problems,” said Dr Peter Guyon, paediatric and congenital interventional cardiologist at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in South Florida. “It puts extra stress on the heart and strain on the lungs.”

Traditionally, treating PDA in premature infants often required invasive surgery or transporting critically ill newborns to operating rooms designed for larger patients — both of which carry significant risks.

Now, physicians can perform the procedure directly at the baby’s bedside in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), using a minimally invasive technique. By accessing the heart through a small blood vessel in the leg, doctors guide the device into place, where it expands to seal the opening. Over time, the body naturally heals around it — without any incisions.

“We didn’t always have devices small enough for these tiny babies,” Dr Guyon said. “Now, we can treat them safely without moving them from the NICU, which is a major advancement.”

At Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, specialists are among a select group participating in clinical trials of this next-generation technology, with the goal of expanding its use and making the procedure a new standard of care for premature infants.

Over the past two years, approximately 30 bedside procedures have been performed using this approach, all with successful outcomes and no reported long-term complications.

“Our surgeons are excellent and can do incredible work,” Dr Guyon added. “But whenever we can avoid surgery — especially in such vulnerable patients — this offers a safer and highly effective alternative.”

As innovation continues to reshape paediatric medicine, advances in minimally invasive technology are helping improve outcomes for some of the most vulnerable patients — newborns requiring critical care.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), occurs when a blood vessel connecting the aorta and pulmonary artery fails to close after birth. 

Dr Peter Guyon, paediatric and congenital interventional cardiologist at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.