SHERIDAN, WYOMING - April 13, 2026 - Abbott's Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder and Similac nutritional products played central roles in the care of Havana Caouette, a premature infant born at 30 weeks who spent 76 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before discharge. The case illustrates how catheter-based cardiac closure devices and fortified infant nutrition formulas work in combination to address the compounding clinical challenges premature births typically generate. For neonatal care teams and hospital procurement officers, the case reinforces the operational value of having minimally invasive cardiac intervention tools available within the NICU setting.
Clinical background: premature birth and cardiac complication
Havana was born on April 13, 2026, via emergency cesarean section after her mother, Julia Caouette, began experiencing contractions at 30 weeks gestation. At birth, Havana weighed 3 pounds 10 ounces - well below the typical full-term weight - placing her in the high-risk category for multiple neonatal complications. Her breathing required close monitoring from the outset, and she was admitted directly to the NICU.
During her stay, clinicians identified a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a condition in which a vascular channel between the aorta and pulmonary artery fails to close naturally after birth. Left unaddressed, the open channel forces the heart to work harder to maintain adequate circulation, compounding respiratory difficulties already common in premature infants. Without intervention, the condition can delay discharge and increase the risk of secondary complications.
Device intervention: Piccolo Occluder deployment
The cardiology team selected Abbott's Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder, a pea-sized, catheter-based transcatheter device designed for the nonsurgical closure of PDAs. The device is delivered percutaneously, avoiding the trauma and recovery time associated with open-heart surgery - a critical consideration for infants with Havana's size and gestational age. Following implantation, Havana's breathing improved rapidly as her cardiac workload normalized.
The Piccolo Occluder carries specific contraindications, including patient weight below 700 grams at the time of procedure, PDA diameter greater than 4 mm at the narrowest portion, and active systemic infection. Patients allergic to nickel require pre-procedure assessment, as the device's nitinol alloy releases nickel for a minimum of 60 days post-implant. The device is MR-conditional and compatible with 1.5T and 3.0T scanning environments under defined SAR parameters, giving post-procedure imaging teams flexibility in follow-up assessment.
Nutritional support: in-hospital and post-discharge
Parallel to her cardiac care, Havana received breastmilk supplemented with Similac fortifier throughout her NICU stay to accelerate weight gain. Fortifiers add caloric density, protein, and micronutrients to expressed breastmilk, allowing premature infants to meet growth targets that unfortified milk alone cannot achieve given the metabolic demands of early gestation.
After discharge, when maternal milk supply became insufficient, the family transitioned to Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive formula. Julia Caouette reported that it was the only formula trialed that supported consistent weight gain without gastrointestinal distress. By 15 months of age, Havana weighed over 20 pounds - within normal developmental range - demonstrating continuity of nutritional support from NICU to home care.
Business impact
Neonatal unit procurement leads evaluating catheter-based cardiac closure platforms face a direct technology selection decision: whether to stock minimally invasive PDA closure devices within the NICU itself or to route cases to cardiac surgery suites. The Piccolo case illustrates that on-site availability of transcatheter devices reduces procedural delays and eliminates the patient-transfer burden for high-risk premature infants. For 2026 capital equipment planning, NICU directors and pediatric cardiology department heads should assess whether their catheter inventory covers the sub-2-kg patient population, given that the Piccolo's anterograde (venous) approach is specifically recommended for infants at or below that weight threshold.
Neonatal nutrition procurement officers and clinical dietitians managing NICU formularies face parallel decisions around fortifier and post-discharge formula continuity. Cases where infants transition from in-hospital Similac fortifier to home Similac formula without gastrointestinal disruption reduce readmission risk and support faster maternal confidence in home care routines. For 2026 formulary reviews, hospital nutrition teams and outpatient pediatric practices should evaluate whether their discharge planning protocols include matched in-hospital and home nutrition products - particularly for premature infants who are likely to require formula supplementation for several months post-discharge.