Oral administration of prostaglandin E2 in the hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Abstract

Oral administration of prostaglandin E2 resulted in marked clinical and hemodynamic improvement in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. A lessening of metabolic acidosis and an increase in blood pressure were evident. These results indicate that the ductus arteriosus was effectively dilated by oral prostaglandin E2 in patients with ductus-dependent systemic circulation, as in the case of ductus-dependent pulmonary circulation. Surgical risk will also be reduced by pretreatment with oral prostaglandin E2.