Right-to-Left Ductal Shunting and Preductal and Postductal Oxygen Saturation Difference in PPHN- Not a Perfect Correlation?

Abstract

Background: Persisent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is often secondary to lung disease such as meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) and is characterized by extrapulmonary right-to-left or bidirectional shunting at the foramen ovale and/or patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Shunting at the PDA results in reduced oxygen saturation (SaO2) and PaO2 in the postductual region. However, studies have not directly evaluated simultaneous preductal and postductal blood gases and direction of ductal shunt. Objective: To evaluate …