Objective:

To identify the prevalence of persistence of the arterial canal (PAC) in newborns in a public hospital.

Methodology:

This is a quantitative, observational and descriptive study. Data from 313 compendiums of newborns were collected, noting the occurrence of the diagnosis of PAC in a sample of inmate newborns at a public hospital in the north of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in the period between August 2015 and August 2016, up to the 7th day of life. The following variables were analyzed: gestational age, birth weight, Apgar 1' and 5', respiratory discomfort, use of ventilation support equipment and use of medication for respiratory function. The collected data were statistically processed through the Minitab program.

Results:

The incidence of the PAC is higher in premature infants, where the relationship of gestational age and birth weight are inversely proportional to the PAC. The prevalence in this study was 2,6 % of newborns with heart disease, and it was observed respiratory discomfort in 43 % of them.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of arterial canal in the sample was relatively low; among the factors associated with the occurrence of heart disease, alterations in the fifth minute of Apgar were statistically significant. Being so, identifying the occurrence of the diagnosis of PAC and knowing the respiratory impact can aid in the programming of assistance and, in particular, favor the improvement of the conduct of nursing.

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