Premature baby in Scotland first in nation to undergo specialized heart procedure

A baby born at just 23 weeks has become the first preemie in Scotland to receive a groundbreaking heart surgery.

Key Takeaways:

• Aribella Duncan was born at 23 weeks, weighing just over one pound.

• She was diagnosed with a heart condition called Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), a condition commonly seen in babies born very prematurely.

• Doctors were able to perform a minimally-invasive surgery, inserting a small device to close the blood vessel in her heart.

• She was the first baby in Scotland to successfully undergo the procedure.

The Details:

Aribella Duncan was born at 23 weeks one day, weighing just 1.1 pounds. Her mom, Caitlin Duncan, said Aribella's early arrival was a surprise.

"There was nothing in my scans to suggest I’d go into preterm labour or that Aribella had any issues," she said, according to The Exponent.

"I arrived at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital at 22 weeks and 6 days, and Aribella was born at 23 weeks and one day. Surprisingly, she was born still inside her waters. They say that’s good luck. She even gave a little cry when she arrived, and we got the chance for a snuggle.”

Her early birth was not without other surprises, as Aribella was diagnosed with a heart condition commonly seen in babies born very prematurely.

A social media post from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde explained:

Aribella was born with 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. PDA places significant strain on the heart and lungs, making breathing, growth, and recovery much more difficult. If it doesn't close using medication, usually open heart surgery is required.

According to the BBC, Aribella was transported to Glasgow's Royal Children's Hospital after her birth, where she became the first baby in Scotland to undergo a specialized heart surgery in which doctors inserted a small device meant to close a blood vessel in her heart.

“There were a couple of attempts to close the PDA using medication,” said Caitlin. “But we were told that if the medicine didn’t work, surgery would be the next step. We were given two options, open‑heart surgery or a minimally invasive keyhole approach. The doctors told us that because of her weight and size, Aribella was the perfect candidate for the less invasive option.”

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In a news release, Dr. Mohammad Ryan Abumehdi, Consultant Interventional Paediatric and Congenital Cardiologist, explained the minimally invasive surgery's benefit.

“With this minimally invasive technique, the interventional cardiology team in close conjunction with neonatal medicine and anaesthetics were able to close Aribella’s PDA. It meant she underwent a much less invasive procedure had a much gentler recovery. For premature babies, those benefits are hugely important," he said.

Caitlin said the surgery's impact on Aribella was immediate.

“We didn’t know what to expect when Aribella came back from Theatre, but she looked right up at us with bright eyes and was playfully kicking her legs. We couldn’t believe how quickly she bounced back," she said.

“Over the next days and weeks, she started gaining weight and growing so much faster. She was like a completely different baby. It’s amazing to think how much energy she must have been using just to cope with the PDA. Once it was closed, she finally had the chance to focus on growing and developing.”

Aribella was eventually discharged from the hospital and is home with her family, while doctors at Royal Children's Hospital have since performed the surgery on three other infants, all with success.

The Bottom Line:

Advancements in medicine continue to benefit even the smallest of babies. All babies, no matter how premature, deserve to be given the chance at receiving the best medical care possible.