Amplatzer devices are used to correct an atrial septal defect.  The Amplatzer septal occluder is delivered through a catheter, and the device expands to place a disc on either side of the defect, closing the hole between the left and right atria. The Amplatzer device is comprised of nitinol, an alloy composed of 55% nickel [...]

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a serious complication for infants, causing substantial risk of death.  Recent studies have linked the use of anti-depressants, like Zoloft, to PPHN. Persistent pulmonary hypertension is a dangerous lung condition that occurs soon after birth. Infants with PPHN have high pressure in their lung blood vessels, reducing [...]

If you take Celexa early in your pregnancy, you may be doubling your risk that your infant will be born with a heart defect.   According to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, fetuses exposed to Celexa during early pregnancy are more than twice as likely to be at risk for heart defects. The study, [...]

Prozac, if taken during pregnancy, may cause fetal abnormalities and perinatal complications.  Women taking Prozac should consult their medical provider before continuing the drug prenatally. A California study performed in November 1996 evaluated 228 pregnant women who took Prozac.  The results of the study showed an increased incidence of three or more structural anomalies in [...]