ABSTRACT
Objectives: We aimed to assess whether the widened carina angle displayed on X-ray supports the presumptive presence of patent ductus arteriosus.
Methods: The study group was arranged by 60 infants under 37 weeks diagnosed with hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus. The control group was constituted by 60 infants with no clinical or echocardiographic evidence of patent ductus arteriosus. In both groups, the location of the left main bronchus was assessed by measuring the angle between two main bronchi at the level of carina.
Results: In the comparison between two groups, a significant widening of carina angle was found in patent ductus arteriosus group and while the interquartile range was found as 69‒108°, the median was found as 89° and the mean was 87.26° (± 7.01°) in study group, these values were found as 57‒89°, 66.5° and 67.4° (± 7.33°) respectively, in the control group (p < 0.001). We found a significant and positive correlation between the increased carina angle values and patent ductus arteriosus occurrence (p< 0.01). When the patent ductus arteriosus was occluded the interquartile range was found as 63‒88°, the median was 74.5° and the mean was 74.7.26° [± 6.4°] (p < 0.001).
Conclusions: We demonstrated that the probability of the appearance of a widened carina angle on X-rays was increased by the presence of patent ductus arteriosus.
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