[Value of prostaglandin E1 in cardiac malformations in the newborn infant].

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) was administered to increase ductus patency in 26 neonates who present a cyanotic heart disease with right ventricular obstruction (1st group, 13 cases) or congestive heart failure with left ventricular outflow obstruction (2nd group, 13 cases). Clinical improvement occurred in all but the oldest infant in the first group. The efficacy of PGE1 is inconstant in the second group, but medical status was very poor before treatment. We could usually reduce the dose of PGE1 but in no case we could stop the drug before surgery. Surgery could be delayed several hours or days to get an hemodynamic and biologic satisfactory condition and even a few weeks until the infants and their pulmonary arteries had grown (1st group). Side effects are common but relatively minor.