Mbarara Hospital together with Uganda Heart Institute (UHI) have operated seven patients with PDAs (Patent Ductus Arteriosus) at Mbarara Hospital this week.
Patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA, is a heart defect that can develop soon after birth. It affects the way blood flows through a baby’s lungs.
The PDA operation is a closed heart procedure. These patients ranged in age from 18 months to 16 years.
Four of them are 12 years old plus.
This is an advanced age for surgery even in Uganda, and serves to drive the point home that they probably would never get operated if they had to travel to Kampala to get it done.
One child, an eight year old, was found too ill to be handled at Mbarara. She is being transferred to UHI which is better equipped for the post operation care and for any eventualities.
The cardiology team provided consultation for many more children with congenital heart disease.