Post PDA closure

[Molly0708]

My daughter had was found at 3 months old to have a PDA. She had signs of heart failure and was put on meds to help with the symptoms also a enlarged heart but never had a weight gaining problem. She at 8 months old went for a cardic cath which was unsucessful because of the size of the PDA. Later, maybe a month later the doctors went in from her side and closed the PDA. She was said to have been in good shape and doing fine. Her heart had decreased in size and her lungs were clear (no meds). I was told to bring her back in a year (last June) and the cardiologist said her heart was still slighty enlarged by .6 I think.  but her lungs were fine. They said that they think it may just be taking longer for her heart to go back to its regular state. they insisted on me bringing her back in 2 years but I insisted on a year. So we go back June 21st.
My daughter now still sweats at night and i would say maybe more than other kids but it nothing outragous and it is nothing like it was before surgery. She loves to play, she rarley will take a nap, she eats very well(she's  2 and weigh 37lbs), pink skin. overall a normal 2 year old.
I notice when she has a cold or is recovering from a cold she seems to cough after running but never really when she isn't sick. she was had a cold and rcovered this last weekend but has still coughed once or twice after play. she also has enlarged tonsils and adnoids which the ent doctor said is the reason she may sound like its hard for her to breath and stay still at night.
So my question would be... Does this sound normal for a heart to take this long to shrink after a very large PDA closure?  is .6 very enlarged?Does she seem like there is anything else wrong with her? She seems to do good... I don't know, I'm very worried. I've done a ton of research.
Thanks,
Molly

[kenkeith]

Your daughter is eating well and weight is normal and she is able to take part in regular activities is a very strong indication your child is making a full recovery without any complications.  The heart will return to normal size with the reduced workload for the heart due to blood volume overload caused by PDA ...if the left ventricle is pathologically enlarged there would be a faster than normal heart rate, shortness of breath, muscle fatgue, etc. indicating the heart cells are not receiving a good supply of oxygenated blood. I am assuming the heart enlargement is not heart muscle disease, but was/is dialted due to being overworked by the additional blood volume from PDA.

I had an enlarged heart sometime ago, and with medication the heart returned to normal size and functionality. Is your daughter taking any medication? And some medications can cause sweating.

Thanks for sharing, and if you have any further questions or comments you are welcome to respond.  I wish your daugther well going forward.  Take care,

Ken







Long-term complications from surgery are rare. However, they can include narrowing of the aorta, incomplete closure of the PDA, and reopening of the PDA
In general, symptoms that indicate that surgery is needed are:

•difficulty breathing because the lungs are wet, congested, or fluid-filled (congestive heart failure)
•problems with heart rate or rhythm (arrhythmias)
•excessive work load on heart that interferes with breathing, feeding, or sleeping
Fast breathing, working hard to breathe, or shortness of breath. Premature infants may need increased oxygen or help breathing from a ventilator.
Poor feeding and poor weight gain.
Tiring easily.
Sweating with exertion, such as while feeding.