The Cardiovascular Surgery and Intervention (CVSI) Team of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City performed its first Patent Ductus Arteriousus (PDA) surgery on three pediatric patients on Friday, September 23.
The patients were from Bacolod City, Binalbagan, and La Carlota, the CLMMRH posted on its Facebook page.
“Aged 2, 3, and 6 years old, the patients have failing hearts and with failure to thrive. They were advised to have surgery in Manila or Iloilo but their families’ financial incapacity hindered them from seeking treatment outside of Negros,” the post said.
Through the CVSI Team of CLMMRH, the PDA ligation procedures of the patients were facilitated.
The surgical team was composed of a guest Complex Congenital Cardiac Surgery Specialist from Western Visayas Medical Center, Dr. Rafael Martin Hilado; CLMMRH’s cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Calvin Fernandez; cardiovascular anesthesiologists Dr. Jorge Edward Masa and Dr. Mary Grace Manganti; pediatric non-invasive cardiologist, Dr. Maria Consuelo Dolores Tumaneng; and pediatric invasive cardiologist, Dr Judah Gozar.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus is a heart condition especially in babies wherein a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus does not close as it should after birth. The ductus arteriosus conducts blood from the main heart artery (aorta) to the primary lung artery (pulmonary arteries) while the baby is still in the womb since they do not have fully functional lungs yet.
This blood vessel usually closes during the baby’s first few days of life when the blood flows to the baby’s lungs. This is the most common heart condition in newborns with premature babies having the greatest risk to acquire the condition. About 90 percent of babies born earlier than 24 weeks of pregnancy can have PDA, the CLMMRH post said.
“The day ended in a celebratory mood as all three patients were stable after the successful series of surgeries,” it said.
“This milestone of the CVSI Team is an indication that closed-heart surgeries are now possible for the financially-disadvantaged patients of Bacolod City and Negros. Anchored on the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan (PFHDP 2020-2040), CLMMRH’s new service is a manifestation of its commitment into making specialized services more accessible to the poor,” it added.*