Aribella was born at 23 weeks and 1 day, arriving still inside her waters, which her mother Caitlin said is considered good luck, and gave a little cry when she arrived, Caitlin reported. She had a Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), a condition where a vital blood vessel fails to close naturally after birth, most commonly seen in very premature babies, according to medical experts. PDA places significant strain on the heart and lungs, making breathing, growth, and recovery much more difficult, doctors explained.
Aribella was moved to The Scottish Paediatric Cardiac Service at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow for specialised treatment. There were a couple of attempts to close the PDA using medication, Caitlin said, adding that if the medicine didn't work, surgery would be the next step. Doctors said that because of her weight and size, Aribella was the perfect candidate for a minimally invasive keyhole approach.
The minimally invasive procedure to close the PDA was the first performed on a baby in Scotland, hospital sources confirmed. Using a tiny device called an Abbott Amplatzer Piccolo, the cardiologists enter through a small incision in the baby's leg, through the ductus, to seal the opening in the heart, according to medical descriptions. This technique significantly reduces invasiveness, lowers risk, and speeds up recovery for fragile babies, experts noted.
Dr Mohammad Ryan Abumehdi, Consultant Interventional Paediatric and Congenital Cardiologist, explained that with this minimally invasive technique, the team was able to close Aribella's PDA, meaning she underwent a much less invasive procedure and had a much gentler recovery. Aribella's mother Caitlin said she bounced back quickly, gaining weight and growing faster over the next days and weeks. The team at the RHC have since performed this on a further three babies since Aribella, according to hospital sources.