Pulmonary atresia medical therapy


 * Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [mailto:psingh@perfuse.org], ; Assistant Editor(s)-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S. [mailto:kfeeney@perfuse.org]

Overview
A patient with pulmonary atresia will require immediate intervention. Intravenous medical therapies may be employed as a supportive mechanism to assist in improvement of hemodynamics, as well as cardiovascular and pulmonary functioning.

Medical Therapy
An IV medication called prostaglandin E1 is used for treatment of pulmonary atresia. This medication helps the blood circulate through the body, but it is extremely dangerous because it causes apnea. In pulmonary atresia treatment it is intended for use to assist the heart and lung functioning temporarily until surgical intervention can occur.