Abbott Device Aids Premature Infant with Heart Defect
Anthony "Little Tony" Daly, born 14 weeks premature, survived a heart defect using an Abbott device. Now 10, he is helping launch a new heart health community.
Abbott Laboratories has reported on the successful outcome for Anthony "Little Tony" Daly, a child born 14 weeks prematurely who underwent a procedure to correct a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a common congenital heart defect.
Daly, born weighing under three pounds at 26 weeks gestation, faced challenges with his PDA and insufficient blood flow to his intestines. Doctors presented his parents with options, including supportive care or a risky surgery.
The family opted for the Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder, a minimally invasive device then available primarily through clinical trials for premature infants. Daly became one of the first patients to receive the device, which successfully closed the PDA, leading to immediate improvement in his condition and subsequent healthy growth.
Now 10 years old, Daly has joined Abbott's HeartMates community, a group supporting individuals with heart conditions. He has also appeared in a Hallmark Channel holiday movie alongside other HeartMates to promote heart health awareness.