Life holds an unlimited potential, and the world offers endless possibilities that every child deserves to explore and enjoy to the fullest. However, what if the heart itself doesn't function as it should and requires additional assistance?

Were you aware that every baby is born with a hole in their heart called the ductus arteriosus?

This blood vessel enables them to receive oxygen-rich blood from their mother while in the womb. Normally, after birth, the hole should naturally close within the first few days of their life, allowing the lungs and heart to take over. Yet, for thousands of babies each year, the hole fails to close properly.

A PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus) causes this condition, and it can hinder their growth and pose a life-threatening risk to an already fragile life. In India, every year, more than 2,00,000 premature babies are born with congenital heart defects that demand early intervention to ensure their survival during the initial years of life. PDA accounts for five to ten percent of all congenital heart defects. To address significant challenges for newborn babies, health tech innovators must adopt a mindset of thinking small, effective, and minimal.

Closing A Hole in the Most Delicate Hearts

Increased blood flow to the lungs makes it difficult for babies to breathe normally. As fragile beings, especially premature and newborns weighing as little as one kilogram at birth, treating PDA becomes a challenge.

However, technological advances have provided hope for many babies with PDA. A transcatheter occlusion device, smaller than a pea and minimally invasive, now offers a corrective solution for premature infants and newborns. This innovative technology proves highly beneficial for infants who may not respond to medication or are unfit for open-heart surgery. The device is inserted through a small incision in the leg and guided through the ductus to seal the heart-opening. This minimally invasive procedure allows babies to recover faster.

Innovation is the Key

Knowing that these children have a fighting chance at normal everyday life through the advancement of such innovative devices is gratifying. Life-changing technologies enhance the quality of life for people, including vulnerable infants. This device, one of the smallest heart devices ever designed, aims to aid infants weighing as little as 700 grams.

Other advancements, such as 3D printing of heart models for surgical planning, have significantly improved the management of congenital heart defects in children. Additionally, better imaging techniques allow for accurate diagnosis and a deeper understanding of the normal and pathological inner structures of the heart, facilitating more effective planning for interventions.

Improvements in catheter and imaging technologies have made minimally invasive, catheter-based therapies more common and transformative in the delivery of care. These innovations in pediatric care provide doctors with new treatment options, changing the standard of care for the smallest of patients. By correcting even the tiniest defect in their heart, these advancements give these young patients a chance to explore a lifetime of possibilities.